Abstract
With proper resource management and through the development of efficient conversion processes, biomass could contribute as much as 20% of current U.S. energy consumption by 2030; i.e. 4 to 5 times today’s 3.8 quads, as estimated for the National Energy Strategy. This can only be obtained through the conversion of biomass into efficient secondary energy forms such as electricity and liquid fuels (ethanol, methanol, and oxygenates). Methanol, oxygenates, and electricity are produced through thermochemical conversion processes such as gasification, liquefaction, and combustion. Biomass already constitutes a significant resource for producing electricity. In 1989, biomass-and municipal-solid-waste-powered facilities provided a generation capacity of almost 8.4 GWe.
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Overend, R.P., Chum, H.L. (1993). Thermochemical Conversion Research in the U.S. Department of Energy Biofuels and Power Programs. In: Bridgwater, A.V. (eds) Advances in Thermochemical Biomass Conversion. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1336-6_3
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