The Biorefinery

The Market

The global demand for biodiesel is expected to top 10 billion gallons per year by 2015. Currently 30 countries have implemented biofuel targets and are blending biodiesel with  regular fuel. Europe is moving towards 7 percent mix, while Brazil and Indonesia are targeting 10 percent. The developing countries supply 50 percent of the global demand for biofuels, and their commitment to renewable fuel long term is demonstrated by the fact that already 17 percent of the world's biodiesel demand is concentrated in the South. The European Union is the largest consumer of biodiesel with 44 percent of demand, closely followed by Asia-Pacific Region with 39 percent, well ahead of the United States.

Europe's agricultural land comprises 164 million hectares of cultivated land and 76 million hectares of pasture for grazing. Agricultural residues of food and feed crops represent an important source for biofuel production. It has been estimated by the multi-lateral research institute IIASA in Vienna, Austria, that up to 246 Megatons of biomass for biofuel and bioplastics production could be manufactured from crop residues which represent 50 percent of the harvested biomass. This can be used without risk of losing fertilizers and soil amendments. This approach to agricultural waste reduces the need for 15 to 20 million hectares of farmland that otherwise would have been used for the planting of crops solely for the production of biofuels.

Next: Part 2

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