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US Advanced Biofuel R&D
in Non-Food Biomass Sources

    Price: $1,495.00 (Hardcopy ?Printed Edition)
$2,295.00 (PDF Department License)
$3,495.00 (PDF Corporate License)
    Published: December 18, 2008
    Total Page: 136 pages


Backed by financing guarantees and a favorable tax treatment plan under the current Bush administration, and with continuing strong support expected from Obama?s new government in 2009, next-generation biofuel R&D is being further pushed forward. Taking a big-picture view, this report describes the status of biofuel R&D in the United States and the comprehensive technology development and commercialization efforts unfolding now and in the future.


Introduction

In June 2008, the US Congress approved a new bill providing a sum of $75 million to hasten commercialization of biofuels. This new legislation provides for a maximum of 30% of the construction costs for biorefineries producing "advanced" biofuels. In addition, loan guarantees of $250 million for construction of such biorefineries have been introduced. This bill also authorizes $150 million per year in discretionary funding. Further, a new tax credit of $1.01 per gallon for biofuel produced from wood, grass and non-edible plant parts has been introduced.

The global economic recession that originated in America has now raised concern about the flow of investment into biofuel. However, in 2009, under the new Obama government, a comprehensive alternative energy policy that is linked to job creation would likely mean interest in biofuel production will continue.

In the current situation, next-generation biofuel R&D assumes non-food biomass sources instead of first-generation food-based biofuel. Cellulose-based ethanol is expected to be in competition with corn-based ethanol in the market in the future. In addition, third-generation biofuel R&D has already started, too.

The reason there will be no slowdown in R&D is that the new government will push 2.5 million gallons or more a year of cellulose-based ethanol production, and even stronger financial incentives and support in this area will be considered.

This report clarifies the present conditions and the future outlook from the viewpoint of technology R&D for the next generation of biofuel.

Chapter 1. Biofuel Market Status and Outlook in Food and Non-Food Feedstocks
Chapter 2. Non-Food Feedstock Biofuel Production Technology/Main R&D Companies
Chapter 3. Current Status of Operations: Pilot Plant Facilities for Non-Food Feedstocks
Chapter 4. Biofuel Businesses and Opportunities


Executive Summary

Chapter 1. Biofuel Market Status and Outlooks in Food and Non-Food Feedstocks
  1.1 Production Size and Forecasts, 2006-2012
    1.1.1 Total Production Size and Forecasts
      Table 1-1 Total Biofuel Production, Historic and Forecast, 2006-2013
      Table 1-2 US Ethanol Production, Historic and Forecast Through 2013
      Table 1-3 US Non-Ethanol Biofuel Production, Historic and Forecast Through 2013
    1.1.2 Demand Prospect of the Next 5 years
      Table 1-4 Historic and Forecast US Fuel Ethanol Demand
      Table 1-5 Historic and Forecast US Non-Ethanol Biofuel Demand, 2006-2013
  1.2 Trends in Pilot Plant Development and/or Biofuel Refinery Construction, 2008-2013
      Table 1-6 US Fuel Ethanol Biorefineries Currently Under Construction or Expanding Capacity
            (Company Name, Location, Feedstock, Current Capacity, Under Construction/ Expansions)
      Table 1-7 Current US Non-Corn Biorefineries Planned or Under Construction
            (Feedstock, Company Name, City, State, Status)
  1.3 Trends in Biofuel Fueling Stations, 2006-2012
      Table 1-8 Biofuel Fueling Stations in the U.S., 2007
      Table 1-9 Forecast for Biofuel Fueling Stations Growth in the US, 2008-2013
  1.4 Trends in the Price of Ethanol Fuel, Current and Future
      Table 1-10 Historic Average Ethanol Spot Price Per Gallon
      Table 1-11 Forecast Average Ethanol Spot Price Per Gallon, 2009-2013
  1.5 The Economics of Biofuels, Today and in the Future

Chapter 2. Non-Food Feedstock Biofuel Production Technology
  2.1 R&D Overview
    (Resource Segment, Feedstock, R&D Company Name, Biomass Conversion Technology,
    Targeted Biofuel)
  2.2 Historical and Current R&D
    2.2.1 Historical Production Processes for Bioethanol and BioDiesel
    2.2.2 Cellulosic Biomass Conversion Processes
    2.2.3 Cellulolysis (biological approach)
    2.2.4 Pretreatment
    2.2.5 Cellulolytic processes
    2.2.6 Chemical hydrolysis
    2.2.7 Enzymatic hydrolysis
    2.2.8 Microbial fermentation
    2.2.9 Combined hydrolysis and fermentation
    2.2.10 Gasification process (thermochemical approach)
  2.3 Second Generation Biofuels Under Development
    2.3.1 Biohydrogen
    2.3.2 Bio-DME
    2.3.3 Biomethanol.
    2.3.4 DMF
    2.3.5 HTU Diesel
    2.3.6 Fischer-Tropsch (FT) Diesel
    2.3.7 Mixed Alcohols
    2.3.8 Wood Diesel
  2.4 Future Biofuels
  2.5 Agriculture Dregs
    Common Research Item
      -Location/Contact
      -URL
      -Fund Backup
      -# of Staff
      -Feedstock
      -Applied Biomass Conversion Process Technology
      -Technology (Technical Summary)
      -Current Developing Stage
      -Progress of shortening of a process
      -Evaluation of the economy
      -Plan of the proof examinations
      -Strategic Alliance/Partner

    2.5.1 Corn Stover (Stem and Skin)
      2.5.1.1 - 2.5.1.4 (4 Companies)
    2.5.2 Stem of the Plant
      2.5.2.1 - 2.5.2.2 (2 Companies)
    2.5.3 Rice Straw
      2.5.3.1 - 2.5.3.3 (3 Companies)
    2.5.4 Agricultural Waste
      2.5.4.1 - 2.5.4.2 (2 Companies)
    2.5.5 Citrus Peels
      2.5.5.1 (1 Company)
    2.5.6 Wheat Straw
      2.5.6.1 - 2.5.6.2 (2 Companies)
    2.5.7 Potato Waste
  2.6 Tree
    Common research item follows above-mentioned item 2.5.
    2.6.1 Wood
      2.6.1.1 - 2.6.1.4 (4 Companies)
    2.6.2 Hybrid Wood
      2.6.2.1 Hybrid Willow
      2.6.2.2 Hybrid Poplar
        2.6.2.2.1 (1 Company)
  2.7 Municipal Solid Waste
    Common research item follows above-mentioned item 2.5.
    2.7.1 MSW (Municipal Solid Waste)
      2.7.1.1 - 2.7.1.3 (3 Companies)
    2.7.2 Wastepaper
      2.7.2.1 (1 Company)
    2.7.3 Old Tires
    2.7.4 Garbage
      2.7.4.1 - 2.7.4.2 (2 Companies)
  2.8 Waste Material
      Common research item follows above-mentioned item 2.5.
    2.8.1 Waste Oil
    2.8.2 Coal Waste
    2.8.3 Celluosic Waste
      2.8.3.1 (1 Company)
    2.8.4 Industrial Waste
      2.8.4.1 - 2.8.4.2 (2 Companies)
    2.8.5 Biomass Waste
      2.8.5.1 (1 Company)
    2.8.6 Beer/Brewery/Beverage Waste
  2.9 Livestock Dregs

    Common research item follows above-mentioned item 2.5.
    2.9.1 - 2.9.3 (3 Companies)
  2.10 Other
    Common research item follows above-mentioned item 2.5.
    2.10.1 Switchgrass
      2.10.1.1 - 2.10.1.4 (4 Companies)
  2.11 Conclusion and Suggestions: Notable Production Technology
    2.11.1 Technology
    2.11.2 Enzyme or Catalysis
    2.11.3 Progress of shortening of a process
    2.11.4 Economic Evaluation

Chapter 3. Current Status of Operations: Pilot Plant Facilities for Non-Food Feedstocks
  3.1 Operation Overview
    (Resource Segment, Feedstock, R&D: Company Name, Research Organization, University Name,
    Biomass Conversion Technology Company, Targeted Biofuel: Ethanol, Alcohol, Methanol, Propanol)
    3.1.1 - 3.1.8 (Total 8 Pilot Plant Facilities)
    Common Research Item
      -Location/Contact
      -URL
      -Fund Backup
      -# of Staff
      -Feedstock
      -Current Operation Status
        1) Applied Biomass Conversion Process Technology
        2) Size
        3) Operation: Since When? Production Running Time and Volume & Process
      -Progress of shortening of a process
      -Evaluation of the economy
      -Plan for Commercialization
      -Strategic Alliance/Partner
  3.2 Biofuel Pilot Plants Announced or Under Construction
    (Location, Feedstock, Expected Completion Date, Partners, Notes)
  3.3 Conclusion and Suggestions: Commercialization Outlook
    3.3.1 Current Bottlenecks and Solutions
    3.3.2 Effects of Government Policy
    3.3.3 Commercialization Outlook
    3.3.4 Market Effects of Biofuel Growth
    3.3.5 Technology Concerns
    3.3.6 Other Concerns and Uncertainties

Chapter 4. Biofuel Businesses and Opportunities
  4.1 Current Investment Status
      Table 4-1 Venture Investment in Biofuels, 2004-2008 (in millions USD)
    4.1.1 Investment Size and Projection Through 2009
      Table 4-2 Biofuel Investments, 2007, by Target
          (Investor, Specific Target, Amount, Special Note)
  4.2 Trends and Opportunities
      Table 4-3 Areas of Interest for Investment
          (Area, Specific component, Equipment, Amount $ Estimated, Special Note)
  

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