Assessment of Conversion Technologies for Bioalcohol Fuel ...

The above CEC and CBC inventories of waste and residual biomass sources indicate
a technical potential for biofuel production from these sources equivalent to about 10%
of California’scurrent transportation fuel supply. About 5 million tons per year, or
roughly one-seventh of the estimated technical biomass resource estimate, is currently
being utilized, mostly for biopower generation.
The ultimate long-term potential for bioenergy production beyond biomass wastes and
residues is represented by energy crops produced specifically for this purpose.
Compared to the above estimates of waste and residual biomass resources, the
potential for cultivation of energy crops as feedstocks for bioenergy production has
been less definitively quantified. Many different types of dedicated energy crops have
been identified, and some have been subjects of research for potential bioenergy
applications in California. These include perennial grasses and trees for cellulosic
biofuel production as well as many starch, sugar and oil crops for conventional biofuel
processes. California’s climate and standing as the nations’ number oneagricultural
state definitely present some major opportunities for energy crop production, with the
ultimate potential of agriculturally-based energy in the state still to be determined.
Prospects for Expanded Research, Development,
Demonstration and Deployment (R3D) Activities
While the development of biomass to bioalcohol fuel technologies has been pursued
for several decades, none of the bioalcohol production technologies described in this
report have been commercially deployed. However, concerns about the increasing
price and long-term supplies of energy, climate change, geopolitical and energy
security, and the rapid growth of energy demand in developing countries is driving
every sector of the energy industry to pursue renewable fuels, other alternative fuels,
efficiency and demand management.
In recent years, interest in carbon emission reduction has grown dramatically. The
New Oxford American Dictionary even chose "carbon neutral" as its "Word of the
Year" for 2006–clear evidence, if more was needed, that this is the wave of the
present -- and that understanding the role of energy technology in attaining "carbon
neutrality" is increasingly important. Bioenergy, including bioalcohols and other
biofuels, clearly offer some of the most promising options for achieving carbon
reduction goals.
The above concerns are expected to result in rapidly increasing levels of funding for
research, development, demonstration and deployment (R3D) projects for biofuels and
bioenergy. There has never been such a wide-ranging opportunity for technological
advancements in the area of renewable and clean fuels and electricity. Venture
capitalists (VCs) are the new players in renewable energy. Many of the VC funding
sources that brought immense innovation in information technology and life sciences
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