Drop-In Biofuels Virtually The Same As Gasoline

Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) successfully demonstrated the technical advances needed to produce cellulosic ethanol cost competitively at $2.15 per gallon. This process for biofuels was modeled at $9 per gallon just a decade ago, reports
Energy.Gov.

On the Path to Low Cost Renewable Biofuels, an Important Breakthrough

NREL Scientist Bryon Donohoe looks at different views of ultra structures of pre-treated biomass materials in the Cellular Visualization room of the Biomass Surface Characterization Lab. | Photo by Dennis Schroeder, NREL

America’s homegrown fuel resources — from wood chips to the leaves and stalks of corn plants — are plentiful. Research finds that these resources could produce enough clean, renewable fuel (biofuels) to replace about 30 percent of the nation’s current petroleum consumption.

Still, on the path to creating a strong, thriving biofuels industry, there are challenges we continue to address. That’s why we’re working with researchers, industry and other partners to increase the reliability and cost-effectiveness of renewable fuel production.

Current ethanol production is primarily from the starch in kernels of field corn. NREL researchers in the DOE Biofuels Program are developing technology to also produce ethanol from the fibrous material (cellulose and hemicellulose) in the corn stalks and husks or other agricultural or forestry residues. Credit: Bob Allan | NREL 

The good news is we are making progress — particularly when it comes to cellulosic ethanol. For the uninitiated, cellulosic ethanol is fuel produced from the inedible, organic material abundant in agricultural waste. This includes grasses, farm waste and virtually every type of plant. While cellulosic ethanol represents a huge opportunity for the renewable fuels industry (biofuels), the high costs and inefficiencies associated with the technology are barriers to its commercialization.

However, with major technology milestones met by researchers at our National Labs and industry partners — that’s all starting to change. Last fall, scientists at the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) successfully demonstrated the technical advances needed to produce cellulosic ethanol cost competitively at $2.15 per gallon — a process that was modeled at $9 per gallon just a decade ago.

You can learn more about the Energy Department’s efforts to sustainably transform the nation’s abundant renewable resources into cost-competitive, renewable fuel (biofuels) by visiting the Bioenergy Technologies Office website.

By Amber Archangel

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