18-05: Applying the biorefinery concept to commercialization of next generation biofuels

The renewable fuels industry has struggled to commercialize second and third generation biofuel technologies, including cellulosic ethanol and algae based fuels and chemicals.   While the base technologies are promising, there are factors beyond technology development which impede large-scale implementation.  The purpose of this presentation is to discuss ways that large scale renewable energy could be commercialized using the multi-product biorefinery concept.

A review of the capital cost of emerging biofuel technologies will be provided, along with a summary of engineering approaches and construction contracting options, and how they can impact the ability to gain financing.  A discussion of the biorefinery concept, in which multiple products are produced from a single feedstock, will be presented and compared with traditional industries that already utilize this approach such as pulp and paper mills.  This presentation comes from direct experience by the author in taking an emerging technology from pilot scale to a full size commercial facility and current work for industry leaders on commercialization of advanced biofuel technologies.