Future thrills

Biofuels: All kinds of biological material may be used to produce energy. The range goes from forest product chips to slaugther house waste, from grasses to animal dung. Biomass used as fuel is called biofuel.

The prices in the market are not good at the moment, and the authorities/goverments are not producing clear intentions, policies. All participants are expecting the government to chip in. It seems quite easy to produce biofuel, but at the moment the situation is unclear regarding price/market and signals about future society intentions – e.g with mixing of biofuels into car fuels in the form of laws, ethical aspects related to food.

Will it end up being fully subsidized by the state, or can we expect an industry ith sound economics soon?

1. Generation

Based on agricultural produce: biodiesel made from plantoils, ethanol from sugars, starch. Ethical dilemmas related to rising food prices due to conversion of foodstuffs to fuel.

2. Generation

Based on waste. Based on biothermal and biochemical processes, both diesel and alcohol. Cellulose, potatoes. Process improvements required. Estimated to be 8 years away in practical terms.

3. Generation

Same raw materials as before but the properties of materials are changed by gene-technology. Will ignite debate on GM.

4. Generation

Designer raw materials and designer production processes. Laboratory scale only (June 2008)

Projects:

India is growing jatropha plants which yields black seeds producing oil that can burn or be refined into biodiesel. Jatropha will not crowd out the food of the world as it can regenerate denuded soil, require little water. India has produced a national biofuel policy. 14 million hectares will be planted. India also make biofuel from leftover molasses. Indian birch will be planted – 1 million – covering an area about half the size of Denmark. Breeding programs are starting including considering the sociology or willingness of the farmer to grow these plants.