BIOFUELS SUPPLEMENT
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A bi-weekly summary of world developments on biofuels, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA)
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January 26, 2007
In This Issue:
News and Trends
- MIT Life Cycle Analysis Looks Into Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Corn Ethanol
- Scientists Call for a Cautious Look Into Potential Risks of Biofuel Crops as Invasive Species
- Project Targets Production of Economically Feasible Algae Biodiesel by 2010
Energy Crops and Feedstocks for Biofuels Production
- Bio-Oil Production Plant Utilizing Caña Brava (Gynerium sagittatum) Project to Rise in the Peruvian Amazon Region
Biofuels Processing
- Syngenta and Diversa Team Up to Develop Enzyme Breakthroughs for Cellulose-Ethanol Production
- Development of Thermochemical Process for Conversion of Cellulosic Biomass to Biofuels
Biofuels Policy and Economics
- ASEAN Ministers Promote Biofuels Production and Utilization
- Consumer Acceptance to Biofuels Positive
* NEWS AND TRENDS *
MIT Life Cycle Analysis Looks Into Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Corn Ethanol
(Original MIT report)
http://lfee.mit.edu/public/Groode_Current%20Corn%20Ethanol%20Results_June%202006.pdf
(News Articles)
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/ethanol.html
http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/techtalk51-15.pdf
http://news.com.com/2061-11128_3-6148505.html
A report from the Laboratory for Energy and the Environment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) presents a new analysis on the benefits of corn-based ethanol with respect to energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Among the findings of the study are: (1) a gallon of corn-ethanol can displace 0.67 gallon of petroleum, assuming a similar in-use efficiency, (2) ethanol-blended fuels showed lower greenhouse gas emissions, only if “co-product credits” are considered. (“co-product credits” can be seen as deductible energy savings associated with by-products that can be obtained from ethanol production), (3) corn-ethanol for transport fuel is seen as a “stepping stone” to the future scenario of cellulosic-ethanol for transport fuel.
A related MIT news article (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2007/ethanol.html), mentions that the energy balance of corn ethanol is presently so close (compared to fossil fuels), that several factors can easily tip the scale for corn-ethanol being an energy beneficial alternative or not.
Gynerium sagittatum (locally known as “caña brava”, “samoa fiber” and “bitter cane”) is a grass plant that “grows wildly the Amazonian floodlands”. A project by Samoa Fiber Holdings company is underway to utilize caña brava for the production of bio-oil by “fast pyrolysis” (rapid high temperature burning of material in the absence of air). About 80% oil yield could be obtained from the biomass.
The company is said to be developing plantations in Eastern Peru; the harvest will be processed in the pyrolysis plant that will be situated adjacent to the plantations.
A panel of scientists from the Chinese National Academy of Sciences has advised on medium and long term development strategies for alternative energy sources in China within the next five years. Some of their action plans are: (1) continuous promotion of industrialization production of ethanol and diesel from biomass, (2) vigorous research and development in liquefaction technologies, “providing demonstration plants with an annual production capacity of one million tons” to realize industrial application, (3) encouragement in development of cellulose ethanol technology and “fast-growing energy-rich plants in desert and desolate areas that can provide biomass for bio-ethanol and bio-diesel manufacturing”.
The report also stresses the need for well planned phases in the implementation of strategies to develop energy-efficient technologies: (1) support should be geared toward research for pilot plant studies, (2) “initial work for industrial application should be done on selective basis”, (3) major decisions for large scale applications must be done only after a full and careful verification, and (4) national research programs should be coordinated under a centralized leadership and management.
The Energy and Development Research Center and the University of North Dakota Centers for Renewable Energy and Biomass Utilization, are pursuing collaborative research (together with ICM, Inc) to develop a thermochemical process for the production of biofuels from cellulosic biomass feedstock (i.e. switchgrass, wheat straw, wood chips). The process is based on the high temperature heating of the biomass in the absence of oxygen (pyrolysis). The end products are high value biofuels like methanol and butanol..