Biotechnology for Biofuels

Changing patterns of investment in biofuels

The research and development of biofuels is beginning to attract investment from large international companies, including those traditionally associated with their fossil fuel predecessors.

A series of news articles published in Nature evaluate recent shifts in interest and investment in jatropha and algae as biofuel feedstocks, as well as techniques to produce cellulosic ethanol and liquid fuel directly from biomass (content requires subscription or payment).

 

With the announcement this summer that BP had pulled out of a $160 million joint venture with D1 oils to accelerate the cultivation of Jatropha curcus, the prospect of further large scale investment in the shrub as a biofuel feedstock faded.

Due to its ability to grow on land unsuitable for agriculture, cultivating jatropha was previously touted as a way of avoiding competition for resources with food crops. However, a recent controversial study suggests that jatropha requires much more water than other prospective bioenergy crops.

Despite falling investment in jatropha over the last year, various remaining projects suggest that the crop could still play a role in meeting future sustainable energy needs. Their scope is broad ranging, from genetic research on the development of high yielding seed strains, to initiatives operating on a local scale which incentivise farmers to cultivate jatropha alongside existing crops. A novel method of jatropha oil transesterification for use in biodiesel synthesis was reported in Biotechnology for Biofuels earlier this year.

While interest and investment in Jatropha has waned, algal biofuels have emerged very quickly as perhaps the most promising source of biofuel for the future. The willingness of oil companies to invest was punctuated by the announcement in July that ExxonMobil would join J. Craig Venter’s Synthetic Genomics Inc. in a project (potentially worth $600-million) attempting to up-scale the production of biofuels from algae (see our previous blog post here). BP & Chevron have also invested in Martek Biosciences and NREL respectively.

The potential benefits of algae as a ‘green’ source of energy are several fold; they can be cultured using land and water unsuitable for agriculture, and consume carbon dioxide during photosynthetic growth. Scientific advance in algal biofuel technology is difficult to gauge, however, as private companies withhold their research from peer review and publication. 

In comparison to algae, the uptake from companies expected to be involved in the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol production (the conversion of agricultural residues and municipal waste into useful fuel), has been slow. Fewer investments than initially expected have been secured, due in part to the economic downturn and previous financial losses in maize ethanol.

This has resulted in an increased focus on the reduction of production costs; increasing the efficiency of fungal enzymes used in ethanol production and using engineered microorganisms that convert cellulose directly to ethanol are two approaches currently being explored. Attention has also turned to crops and industrial process by-products not previously considered or grown for use as feedstocks in bioethanol production. Research published in Biotechnology for Biofuels looks at spent grain from the brewing process, and blemished watermelons discarded from the annual crop.

In time, fuels derived from biomass which replicate the hydrocarbon fuels in use today might prove more attractive to investors than bioethanol. The technology to convert biomass to liquid fuel in this way is in its infancy, however the benefits of the approach include the generation of fuel products that would be tailored for the existing petrol-focused infrastructure. In 2008, Virunt and investor Royal Dutch Shell announced plans to develop technology for converting plant sugars into hydrocarbons similar to those produced at petroleum refineries, and other companies including Chevron and Volkswagen have also invested in projects to develop biomass to liquid fuel technology.

 

Biotechnology for Biofuels welcomes high-quality studies describing technological and operational advances in the above production techniques, as well as others covered by the journal scope.

You can browse or search published articles, or submit your manuscript for consideration, online.

 

Gerbens-Leenes, W., Hoekstra, A., & van der Meer, T. (2009). The water footprint of bioenergy Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 106 (25), 10219-10223 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0812619106

Kumari, A., Mahapatra, P., Garlapati, V., & Banerjee, R. (2009). Enzymatic transesterification of Jatropha oil Biotechnology for Biofuels, 2 (1) DOI: 10.1186/1754-6834-2-1

Xiros, C., & Christakopoulos, P. (2009). Enhanced ethanol production from brewer's spent grain by a Fusarium oxysporum consolidated system Biotechnology for Biofuels, 2 (4) DOI: 10.1186/1754-6834-2-4

Fish, W., Bruton, B., & Russo, V. (2009). Watermelon juice: a promising feedstock supplement, diluent, and nitrogen supplement for ethanol biofuel production Biotechnology for Biofuels, 2 (18) DOI: 10.1186/1754-6834-2-18

 

Posted by Ciaran O'Neill at 11:59    Comments (0)

 

Investing in algal biofuels

ExxonMobil and Synthetic Genomics Inc. (SGI, a biotechnology company) have announced a research partnership with the aim of developing biofuels from algae.

In a statement from SGI, the company founder J Craig Venter described the long-term objective of the alliance to explore “the most efficient and cost effective ways to produce next generation biofuels using photosynthetic algae”. These biofuels would be economically viable, and compatible with gasoline and diesel fuels currently in use.

This interest in algal biofuels from the oil and gas company comes in response to a number of potential benefits, and represents a significant investment. Growing algae consume carbon dioxide, and as such could serve as a carbon sink and assist the reduction of net emissions from the fuel industry. A shift to algal biofuels could also negate potential land use conflict between food and fuel crops, as algae can be cultured using land and water unsuitable for agriculture.

The deal is potentially worth $300 million for the La Jolla based genomics company, if they meet a number of research and development milestones, while a further $300 million is invested into ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company (EMRE).

SGI will focus on finding and enhancing strains of algae to efficiently yield lipids and long-chain hydrocarbons, while EMRE will work with the bio-oils produced to develop finished biofuel products. Together, the companies aim to identify and develop large-scale production systems suited to producing algal biofuels on an industrial scale.

SGI speculate that algae could yield more fuel than crop plant sources currently in use; as much as 2,000 gallons of fuel per acre per year, whereas corn yields approximately 250.

Emil Jacobs, vice president of research at EMRE, states that “meeting the world’s growing energy demands will require a multitude of technologies and energy sources”.  That a company such as ExxonMobil is willing to invest in algae as a prospective source of biofuel represents a promising shift in focus. 

Posted by Ciaran O'Neill at 17:03    Comments (0)

 

Biofuel and land use

In “Squaring biofuels with food”, a forum discussion published in the latest edition of Issues in Science and Technology, leading biofuel researchers discuss the complex and controversial issue of the land use change associated with increased biofuel production. The forum is in response to an earlier article by Keith Kline and colleagues published in the same journal. 

The contributors to the forum focus on the need to develop a strategic, long-term and global perspective that takes into account increased biofuel production as part of a wider picture.  They suggest that a balanced review of existing literature contradicts recent claims that biofuel-associated changes in land use would result in rising food prices, deforestation, biodiversity loss and the release of terrestrial carbon as CO₂. 

In an open letter to the forum, the Global Sustainable Bioenergy Project outline their objectives in addressing the challenge faced; producing food and biofuels in sufficient amounts, whilst meeting social and environmental needs. They, along with the other forum contributors, highlight the social importance of advancing current methodology, technology and modelling techniques used in biofuel production.

To keep up to date with the latest publications in Biotechnology for Biofuels, sign up for article alerts or follow our RSS feed. If you are interested in writing an occasional piece for our blog, on these or other biofuel-related topics, please contact editorial@biotechnologyforbiofuels.com.

Posted by Ciaran O'Neill at 15:27    Comments (0)

 

Lignocellulosic plants of possible use for biofuel production

A recent review article [Simmons BA, Loque D, Blanch HW: Next-generation biomass feedstocks for biofuel production. Genome Biol 2008, 9:242] published in Genome Biology highlights the use of lignocellulosic biomass to produce second generation biofuels. Simmons, Loque and Blanch describe how hybrid poplar, eucalyptus, loblolly pine, willow and silver maple could be grown throughout the United States on idle farm land with no changes to farm practices. They estimate that 247 billion liters of biofuels per year could be produced in this way.

In the article they also focus on the biological advances being made into producing dedicated energy crops with enhanced characteristics. Lignocellulosic plants are notoriously difficult to convert into fermentable sugars due to the presence of lignin in cell walls. However, research into microbes that can remove lignin from crops, and the modification of lignin biosynthesis within the plants themselves, suggest that this recalcitrance to conversion could be diminished. Research into crops engineered to 'reach high energy densities over a short time with minimal fertilization and water consumptions', or break down cellulose to glucose, are also discussed in the review.

The article is significant at a time when governments around the world are looking for ways to decrease their dependence on fossil fuels and increase their biofuel production because of concerns over the impact fossil fuel have on global warming, as well as wanting to decrease their dependence on imported fuels.

Andrea Melendez, Assistant Journal Development Editor

Posted by Matthew Cockerill at 18:38    Comments (0)

 

The potential of algae as biofuel feedstock

Making biofuels from algae is an alluring idea, but the economic and technical feasibility is far from certain...

 

[Read More]

Posted by Sam Cockerill at 10:51    Comments (0)

 

International Biofuels Survey- please take part

A Master’s student from the University Of Auckland, New Zealand and Intern at SCION Research, is conducting an international study on the strategic development of the liquid biofuels industry.

The aim of the research is to understand what factors Decision Makers within academia, industry and government see as most important when choosing between and evaluating biofuel alternatives. The intent is to create a ‘decision support model’ for biofuel development, which could be used by the various stakeholders within the liquid biofuels industry.

The research involves completing a questionnaire which asks participants to rank and weight the importance of key Decision Making factors and sub-factors within Environment, Infrastructure, Macro & Micro Economic, Policy, Social, and Technical categories.

The researcher, Haylon Smith, is seeking the participation of individuals with broad knowledge of the international biofuels industry, preferably those in management, scientific or advisory roles at a senior level. Please contact him directly (Haylon.Smith@scionresearch.com) by the 31^st of August if you are able to partake in this research or if you would like further information.

 

Haylon Smith 

Posted by Anna Webb at 10:13    Comments (0)

 

Biofuels policy: Public debate and scientific review

“The world faces the daunting combination of surging energy demand, rising greenhouse gas emissions and tightening resources. A global energy technology revolution is both necessary and achievable; but it will be a tough challenge”. This is how Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director of the IEA,  summed up the task faced by the world over the next 40 years, at the launch of the latest edition of Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) last week http://www.iea.org/Textbase/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=263

Setting out a vision for 2050, Tanaka makes clear the scale of the challenge for biofuels - “In addition to [decarbonisation of the power sector] we would also have to make an eightfold reduction of the carbon intensity of the transport sector. This represents the most difficult and costly step due to the ongoing rapid demand growth and limited potential based on existing technology”

In a year in which biofuels have been at the centre of two heated public debates – on sustainability, and on food prices – it is helpful to be reminded of this long term imperative, and the need for strong, consistent and scientifically based policies to support the biofuel technology revolution.

The debate on sustainability was ignited in January by a series of articles including those by Searchinger and Fargione, and in the UK by the EAC and Royal Society reports, but has since taken on a life of its own. Similarly, the connection between global food prices and global biofuel production, based on the observation that both are increasing, has become a staple for headlines and placards across the world. The disregarded fact that increasing global demand for meat (and hence grain feedstuffs) and erratic agricultural output accounts for the majority of the recent price spike seems to have been lost in the noise.

Yet as the public debate continues, UK government policy awaits the outcome of a more measured and scientific review by the RFA. http://www.dft.gov.uk/rfa/reportsandpublications/reviewoftheindirecteffectsofbiofuels.cfm  

Led by Professor Ed Gallagher, and due to report in the next few weeks, the RFA review intends to address both sustainability and food price impacts of biofuels by considering:  

• Global drivers, pressures and availability of land and the effect of current and future demand and production scenarios for biofuels
• GHG emissions arising from land-change and cultivation of biofuels and uncertainties in science and methodologies
• Drivers of rising food commodity prices and effects upon food security

Public debate is an essential part of a healthy political process, raising concerns that challenge the status quo or present policy direction, and highlighting issues that require considered action. But it can also be prejudiced, fickle and reactionary; it prefers a good headline to a robust scientific argument; and it has a habit of presenting recycled conjecture as fact.

In the next round of biofuels policy development, the conclusions of the RFA, and of the other scientific reviews ongoing elsewhere in Europe and around the world will, it is to be hoped, carry considerably more weight than the heated public debate that will no doubt continue.

 

Posted by Sam Cockerill at 10:16    Comments (0)

 

Welcome to the BfB blog

Welcome to the first posting on the Biotechnology for Biofuels blog.  This site is designed to be a forum for the exchange of ideas within the community, and we welcome short pieces on interesting research papers, methods, policy directions, funding opportunities and upcoming meetings.  Bloggers for this site come from a wide range of backgrounds, including academia, industry, and consultancies.

We hope to establish this blog as the site for information on the biofuels world, from methods to news and views.  You are encouraged to post comments or continue discussions through the site, enabling the free and rapid flow of information, thereby promoting debate. 

Readers are asked to contribute to the blog by sending links to interesting developments relating to biotechnology in a biofuels context to bfbblog@biomedcentral.com.

If you are interested in writing the occassional piece for our blog, or would like more information, please contact anna.webb@biomedcentral.com.

Posted by Anna Webb at 10:14    Comments (0)