Biofuels Basics
This section is specifically designed for those who want to learn the basics about biofuels and advanced biofuels; for those who are new to the advanced biofuels industry; and for those who may be very familiar with one area of the wide range of subjects crucial to the development of advanced biofuels, and who want to obtain a broader understanding of the “big picture.”
A biofuel is a transportation fuel derived from renewable resources such as plant biomass or municipal wastes that replaces or reduces the quantity of fossil fuel present in the U.S. transportation fuel mix.(1)
This definition applies to a diverse set of fuel types. However, due to the diversity that exists within the industry, further specific definitions to clarify this diversity have emerged.
The first method categorizes biofuels by “generation” - first generation, second generation or third generation. First generation fuels are created largely from feedstocks that have traditionally been used as food, second generation fuels are made from nonfood feedstocks using advanced technical processes, and third generation fuels are made from nonfood feedstocks, but the resulting fuel is indistinguishable from its petroleum counterparts (2).
It is worth noting that on European web sites, several web sites here in the United States, and in several articles in the popular press, the term first generation biofuels refer to more than just fuels derived from corn starch. It also refers to the fuels that have been derived from sources like sugar, animal fats and vegetable oil. On these sites, biodiesel, vegetable oil, biogas, bioalcohols, and syngas are considered first generation biofuels(3). Be aware that various definitions exist in regards to biofuels, when doing further investigation.
The second method of defining biofuels emerged from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (4), which sorted biofuels into 3 primary categories: conventional, advanced, and cellulosic. Full Definition
First Generation Biofuels
Many who hear the word “biofuels” think of corn-based ethanol or soy-based diesel.
When it became clear that the world could benefit from the lower carbon emissions of fuels made from plants, as compared to the pollution and climate change effects attributed to the release of carbon into the atmosphere from the use of fossil-based fuels, the corn growers thought they could easily come to the rescue.
Ethanol made from farm crops was the fuel Henry Ford envisioned powering the first automobiles. The apparent abundance and ability of petroleum products (gasoline, diesel) to pack a lot of power in a small space (1/3 more than ethanol) gave the developing oil industry the advantage. Growers thought they could take a lesson from history, learn the technology from whiskey-makers and help the US and the world break its gasoline habit. And enjoy the financial benefits of this new market for their product.
That direction seemed very promising until two things happened. First, the price of oil skyrocketed with gasoline selling for over $4.00/gallon and similar increases affecting diesel (for powering farm equipment) and natural gas (used to make fertilizers). Not only did cultivation and transportation costs rise, they pushed up the price of corn and other food products.
On top of this came controversies about making biofuels from feedstocks such as corn or soy that can also be used for human and animal food, which gained widespread public attention. Some believe that increases in food prices can be substantially attributed to the increased demand for corn and soy for fuel use. Government and private studies show that increases in food prices in the past year or so have other factors such as increases in the price of petroleum-based fuels (gasoline, diesel) and fertilzers (which are derived from natural gas) and that the increased demand for corn and soy resulting is something like 2-3% of the price increase. They also point out that food prices have not decreased substantially although the price of corn has decreased dramatically as of early 2009.
This conversation has also received heightened attention in the legislative and regulatory inclusion of a theory called international indirect land use change emissions analysis.
In addition to energy security, military strategic flexibility and rural economic development, climate change mitigation is one of the benefits promised by increased use of biofuels. Climate change mitigation is usually measured by figuring out a technology’s “carbon footprint.” In the case of biofuels, a life cycle analysis is calculated “from seed to wheel.” This would include not only the emissions related to the tilling, planting, fertilizing, harvesting and transporting the feedstock, but also the emissions from the biorefinery that produces the biofuel and the tailpipe emissions resulting from the use of the biofuel. READ MORE
In addition, the indirect land use change theory postulates that for every acre of crops that are used for biofuel instead of for food, some acre of land somewhere in the world will be converted from forest or other non-agricultural use to grow crops and that the consequence will be decreased carbon sequestration and increased carbon emissions.
This theory is very controversial. Those who oppose including this analysis in legislation, regulation or any other use claim that the science to calculate this international indirect land use change impact is “not ready for prime time;” that the models being used to make these calculations were not designed for this purpose and are inappropriate for this use; that there is insufficient credible, reliable data in the world about crops and land use patterns, trends, etc.; and that other economic, climate change, political and cultural factors affect human land use decisions and need to be accounted for in the analysis.
Many different technologies and feedstocks are subjects of research and development. For a brief history of some of those technologies, with emphasis on technologies using algae, see Will Thurmond’s Biofuels Digest article. For other articles, click on the category to the right of this page that includes your area of interest.
The promise of Advanced Biofuels or Next Generation Biofuels
The primers are a good place to start to learn about biofuels made from non-food, non-feed, sustainably grown feedstocks, including agricultural and food processing waste, algae and other substances.
KQED’s 10 minute video, Biofuels: Beyond Ethanol explains advanced biofuels and current research being conducted to turn the material in plant cell walls (of switchgrass, corn stover, poplar, etc.) into “drop-in” fuels.
A full definition includes practical and legal elements. Generally, advanced biofuels can be thought of as high-energy liquid transportation fuels derived from: low nutrient input/high per acre yield crops; agricultural or forestry waste; or other sustainable biomass feedstocks including algae.
This entire web site is dedicated to helping people understand what advanced biofuels are, how they are used, research being conducted to convert biomass to biofuels, and the economic, political and social aspects of developing, producing, distributing and using advanced biofuels. For links to other educational materials about advanced biofuels, click here. For more information on how to use the site, click here.
Enjoy the site. Enjoy learning about this truly sustainable renewable future.
If you have any comments or suggestions–or questions about advanced biofuels that have not been addressed on the site, please contact us at info@AdvancedBiofuelsUSA.org.
Footnotes
1. http://biofuelsandclimate.wordpress.com/about/
2. http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=2070
3. http://biofuel.org.uk/first-generation-biofuels.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel#First_generation_biofuels
http://www.ifp.com/axes-de-recherche/carburants-diversifies/biocarburants-de-1ere-generation
http://pellets-wood.com/first_generation_biofuels-o639.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE55S3P620090629
4. http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_public_laws&docid=f:publ140.110.pdf
Enzymes 101
Biofuels Digest published a brief description of enzymes and summarized breakthroughs in enzyme development through early 2010 and their potential impact on commercialization of cellulosic ethanol.
