Science of Alternative Feedstocks Hans

Biomass, which represents both cellulosic and non-cellulosic materials, contains the most abundant source of fermentable carbohydrates that can be fermented into fuels and chemicals. According to the Department of Energy (DOE) “Roadmap for Biomass Technology in the United States,” biobased transportation fuels are projected to increase from the 0.5% of U.S. consumption in 2001 to 4% in 2010, 10% in 2020, and further to 20-30% in 2030, or about 60 billion gallons of gasoline equivalent per year. The production of ethanol from low-cost lignocellulosic biomass that does not compete with food crops may be the key to meeting the DOE target. This approach would be consistent with ethanol as an economically viable and sustainable energy source.