Moving Toward Energy Security and Sustainability in 2050 by Reconfiguring Biofuel Production

Abstract

To achieve energy security and sustainability by 2050 requires reconfiguring biofuel production both by building on current infrastructure and existing technology and also by making substantial improvements and changes in the feedstocks used, the process technologies applied, and the fuels produced. This chapter describes a biofuel production system that would combine proven processes with promising technologies that are currently under development and that has the potential to provide energy security by 2050. This system is envisioned as a self-contained, community-based system with integrated crossover bioprocessing units to convert biomass into third generation drop-in biofuels and bio-derived chemicals. These systems could be developed on sites near new feedstocks or built onto existing first- or second generation biofuel facilities. The system would not only produce biofuels from both biomass and CO₂ but also produce high-value coproducts and transform wastewater effluent into acceptable irrigation water. The design would produce energy in an environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable manner.