Cellulosic Biomass Issues: For the ethanol industry to expand significantly above the five billion gallon annual production level would almost certainly require the use of some form of cellulosic feedstocks. In some cases there may be environmental concerns about how such materials (e.g. agricultural residues, forest thinnings) can safely be removed without impacting erosion, soil nutrients, and natural growth cycles, to cite a few issues. However the amount of materials for sustainable removal of surface residue has been researched and is well defined. Models have been developed which have been validated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Also, in some cases, certain types of feedstocks such as corn stover may have a short harvest window due to weather conditions which could present unique challenges.
In addition there could be competing uses for feedstocks. For instance certain wood wastes and materials from municipal solid waste may have other feedstock uses such as for Infrastructure Requirements For An Expanded Fuel Ethanol Industry particle board or recycled paper. The value of such uses could be higher than the materialās value as an ethanol feedstock, potentially reducing availability of cellulosic feedstocks at economically viable costs. The U.S. DOE is sponsoring ongoing research to reduce the cost of converting biomass feedstocks to ethanol as well as to lower the cost of the feedstock supplies. Previous work has lowered such costs dramatically from those of only a few years ago. However, for biomass feedstock to be competitive, further advancements are needed. The DOE projects that with recent advancements in biotechnology and directed evolution, (11) conversions cost will continue to be reduced. These issues are well beyond the scope of this work and in this study the assumption is made that biomass conversion cost issues will be favorably resolved. The potential for using Municipal Solid Waste as feedstock, as noted above, also introduces uncertainties since there may be competing uses. However there are also other components of MSW that would be available such as green wastes (lawn clippings, prunings, etc.). [ PDF page 49-50, report page 2-8 & 2-9 ] > From - > "INFRASTRUCTURE REQUIREMENTS FOR > AN EXPANDED FUEL ETHANOL INDUSTRY" > Downstream Alternatives Inc. > January 15, 2002 > From - > Office of Transportation Technologies > Alternative Fuels Data Center > Department of Energy > http://www.afdc.doe.gov/pdfs/6235.pdf PDF > [ 1058k, 550 pages ] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Buy Stock for $4 and no minimums. FREE Money 2002. http://us.click.yahoo.com/orkH0C/n97DAA/Ey.GAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send "unsubscribe" messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
