US to run on one-third biofuels
The US could produce enough ethanol to displace nearly a third of all petrol use by 2030, a study by New Mexico-based Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors concludes.
The researchers found that annual ethanol production from plant waste and energy crops could reach 90 billion gallons by that date, with 75 billion gallons coming from cellulosic feedstocks such as switchgrass, corn stover, wheat straw and woody crops.
Producing 90 billion gallons of biofuels could reduce direct US greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 87 coal-fired electricity plants.
The study finds that large volumes of cellulosic biofuels can be produced from already identified biomass and resources without displacing crop production.
Cellulosic biofuels could compete without incentives with oil priced between $70 and $90 (€54 and €69) per barrel in 2030, with accelerated development of technology and feedstocks.
The investment in cellulosic biorefineries would be comparable to that required to expand domestic oil exploration and production to equivalent levels.
‘The Sandia study confirms that the future of cellulosic ethanol is a realistic route to energy independence,’ Joe Skurla, president and CEO of DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol, comments. ‘More importantly, it also shows that our industry will contribute significantly to a low carbon transportation sector and the new green economy.’
The researchers found that annual ethanol production from plant waste and energy crops could reach 90 billion gallons by that date, with 75 billion gallons coming from cellulosic feedstocks such as switchgrass, corn stover, wheat straw and woody crops.
Producing 90 billion gallons of biofuels could reduce direct US greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 87 coal-fired electricity plants.
The study finds that large volumes of cellulosic biofuels can be produced from already identified biomass and resources without displacing crop production.
Cellulosic biofuels could compete without incentives with oil priced between $70 and $90 (€54 and €69) per barrel in 2030, with accelerated development of technology and feedstocks.
The investment in cellulosic biorefineries would be comparable to that required to expand domestic oil exploration and production to equivalent levels.
‘The Sandia study confirms that the future of cellulosic ethanol is a realistic route to energy independence,’ Joe Skurla, president and CEO of DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol, comments. ‘More importantly, it also shows that our industry will contribute significantly to a low carbon transportation sector and the new green economy.’
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