http://domesticfuel.com/2013/04/18/globaldata-bioethanol-car-fuel-of-future/
Posted by Joanna Schroeder – April 18th, 2013
According to a new report by @GlobalDataEnergy, bioethanol is
the car fuel of the future. The report, “Cellulosic Ethanol – Global
Production, Major Trends, Regulations, and Key Country Analysis to
2020,” finds that ethanol is the most widely acclaimed alternative or
additive for gasoline used for running vehicles. In addition, the U.S.
ranked number one in biofuel production using natural waste feedstocks.
According to the latest report, the U.S. is the global leader in
cellulosic ethanol production, manufacturing 5.42 million gallons in
2012.
Bioethanol
is produced through the fermentation of cellulosic feedstock such as
forest and agricultural waste. The reports finds that the U.S. has an
abundance of biomass feedstock, and dedicated energy crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus
that are grown exclusively for conversion into cellulosic ethanol to
help the nation’s ambition to meet fuel needs while reducing greenhouse
gas (GHG) emissions.
The U.S. is the only country currently working to promote the
cellulosic ethanol market, says the report, with the U.S. Department of
Energy (US DOE) providing grants to help companies establish a
commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant. As a result, several
companies have set up pilot and demonstration plants and a few
commercial plants are expected to be commissioned in late 2013. The
report also finds that the U.S. have also mandated the addition of 10%
ethanol in gasoline fuel, setting steady domestic demand for the
industry, while certain recently released cars are able to run on a 85
percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline mix.
The report finds corn stover and wheat straw are among the most
freely available types of feedstock used in countries producing
cellulosic ethanol, and growing ethanol demand may see these nations
utilizing the residue of their corn crop for ethanol production,
creating a sizable market for agricultural waste. GlobalData expects
that the growing feedstock demand will create a structured market, in
which biomass feedstock prices will be set based on their ethanol yield
and the prevailing trading price of ethanol.
Some EU countries such as France and Italy have cellulosic ethanol
production infrastructure, but a limited supply of biomass feedstock.
Growth of commercial production in these countries may fuel the need to
import feedstock from nearby countries or expand production to other
countries with ample feedstock availability. A few producers with
upcoming commercial scale plants in the U.S. have already started
signing agreements to procure agricultural residue and other kinds of
cellulosic feedstock.
Global cellulosic ethanol is expected to increase from 14.25m gallons
in 2012 to 412.25m gallons in 2020, with commercial production
anticipated to take off on a large scale in late 2013 and 2014, thanks
to major players adding substantial production capacity and new
companies joining the market. The report finds that the U.S. is expected
to retain its market dominance until 2020.
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