Beyond Fossil Fuels: Eric McAfee on Biofuels

What technical obstacles currently most curtail the growth of biofuels? What are the prospects for overcoming them in the near future and the longer-term?

The conversion and commercialization of cellulose inputs into fuel ethanol is a significant technology obstacle to the growth of the ethanol industry as a mainstream fuel. A number of companies are currently working on cellulosic technologies, and great strides have been made, but a gap remains between technology advances and full commercial deployment. Much of this challenge exists around two factors

A key issue is the conversion of existing corn ethanol and sugarcane ethanol facilities into integrated cellulose/starch/sugar production facilities. Along with the construction of new cellulose-only ethanol facilities, the conversion of existing plants would enable the production of commercial quantities of cellulosic ethanol by 2010, as mandated by the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Scientific American