| General Information |
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| Open and planned US cellulosic ethanol plants |
An early 2009 report on cellulosic ethanol plants.
Summary: "Companies in the United States are racing to make cellulosic ethanol, which is believed to release less planet-warming emissions and to be less likely to raise food pries than conventional ethanol made from corn. A few companies have opened pilot plants to make cellulosic but no commercial amounts of the fuel are being made. The industry risks failing the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard, which requires the blending of 100 million gallons of cellulosic into the country's gasoline pool next year." |
| Economics and energy of ethanol production from alfalfa, corn, and switchgrass in the Upper Midwest, USA |
2008 paper from UW-Madison that looked into alfalfa rotated with corn versus switchgrass as ethanol feedstock. Abbreviated technical abstract: "In the U.S., biomass crop systems will be needed to meet future ethanol production goals. We estimated production costs, profits, and energy budgets for three potential crop systems for the Upper Midwest: continuous corn, an alfalfa-corn rotation, and switchgrass." |
| Why Cellulosic Ethanol is Nearer Than You May Think |
A PowerPoint presentation by Dr. Bruce E. Dale,
Dept. of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, Michigan State University, July 16, 2007. For more information. |
| Money doesn't grow on trees, but gasoline might |
A 2008 press release from UW-Madison's College of Engineering about UW-Madison grad student, George Huber's announcement of
the first direct conversion of plant cellulose into gasoline components. This “green gasoline” can be created from sustainable biomass sources like switchgrass and poplar trees. |
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| Feedstocks |
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| Storage Strategies for Cellulosic Feedstocks |
Article from the February 2009 issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine, a great nuts and bolts article covering varying ways to store corn stover and switchgrass. |
| Feedstock Composition Glossary |
From the DOE Biomass Program. |
| Feedstock Composition Database |
From the DOE Biomass Program.
Designed to make data on chemical composition and physical properties of various biomass resources available to energy professionals in the scientific and engineering community. |
| Biomass Feedstock Availability in the United States: 1999 State Level Analysis |
Article from the DOE's Oak Ridge National Lab in Tennessee. Updated January, 2000 |
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| Scientific Research |
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Two-step chemical process turns raw biomass into biofuel |
The Wisconsin Technology network released this article in February 2009. Introduction: "Taking a chemical approach, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a two-step method to convert the cellulose in raw biomass into a promising biofuel. The process, which is described in the Wednesday, Feb. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is unprecedented in its use of untreated, inedible biomass as the starting material." |
Cows may hold key to unleashing plant energy |
An October 2008 article about continuing research being done at Michigan State University to develop new ways to break cellulose into simple sugars that can be made into fuels. The research is currently evaluating enzymes found in the stomach of cows that may quickly break down more of the plant than has been done before. |
Cellulose Direct: Integrated, nonfermentation process simplifies conversion of cellulose into an alternative furan-based fuel |
An August 2008 article covering work done by researchers at the University of California - Davis.
Researchers at the University of California - Davis have developed "a streamlined chemical method that permits easier, direct conversion of purified cellulose into a biofuel. The process transforms cellulose into 5-(chloromethyl)furfural (CMF) and then into 5-(ethoxymethyl)furfural (EMF), which is a promising alternative fuel." |
| Poet's ethanol drive banks on cellulose |
Popular press article about one companies quest for cellulosic ethanol. Includes a simple description of a process of refining cellulosic material. |
| Breaking the Biological Barriers to Cellulosic Ethanol |
That is the title of a US Dept of Energy report that describes the federal research agenda to achieve the goal of displacing 30% of gasoline demand with biofuels, primarily ethanol, by 2030. This website includes that report and extensive background on this topic. |
| Ethanol from Lignocellulosics: Comparing biofuel technology options |
This 2006 report from IEA Bioenergy compares two technology platforms: Bioconversion and Thermochemical. It also touches on greenhouse gas production and coproducts. |
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| Economics & Markets |
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| Niagara Biomass Supply Analysis |
From the summer of 2008 to the summer of 2009, officials at the New North, Inc. explored the economic development opportunities surrounding cellulosic ethanol production in Northeast Wisconsin. After several meetings with prospects, discussions with researchers, and contracting with industry experts, New North, Inc. announced the results of phase one of what will be a multifaceted project aimed at attracting large-scale cellulosic ethanol production to the region. |
$3.5 Billion Ethanol Pipeline Proposal Resurfaces With New Player, Higher Cost |
A March 2009 update of information about a cellulosic ethanol pipeline that contains plans to run from Iowa to New Jersey. No current plans for the pipeline to branch into Wisconsin. Abstract: "
South Dakota-based Poet, which represents ethanol companies with 1.8 billion gallons of annual production capacity, has signed a joint development agreement with Magellan Midstream Partners to study the feasibility of the dedicated ethanol pipeline." |
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A former foe of ethanol now champions its use as fuel |
A May 2008 report from earth2tech, Abstract: "
There’s a quiet race going on to be the first in the U.S. to turn the country’s waste and biomass into next-generation ethanol at a large scale; as companies make progress it’s getting louder. Ethanol producer Verenium said today it has officially opened a demonstration facility in Jennings, Louisiana, which will produce 1.4 million-gallons-per-year of cellulosic ethanol." |
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| Critiques & Concerns |
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| Proponent views |
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