Current developments in bioethanol production

Abstract

The recent high price of oil (in excess of $US95 per barrel), security advantages of increased domestic production, environmental benefits of reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the potential for regional development, have all contributed recently to a greatly increased interest in bioethanol. In the longer term, second generation processes based on lignocellulosic materials from agricultural/forestry residues and/or specific high yield biomass energy crops offer greater potential for increased production as they avoid the food vs fuel conflict.