Biofuel feedstocks

Biomass feedstocks that are utilised to produce fine chemicals, fuel, power and heat are of significant interest to the food sector because food production consumes plant and animal biomass in order to produce foodstuffs. Waste streams within the food sector are often composed of biomass. Biomass can be burned directly for fuel and power or processed into higher value components. When biomass is used for fuel it is either dried and burned or processed into bioethanol and/or biodiesel. The Renewable Energy Association provides commercial support and guidance on biofuels and energy in the UK.

When biomass is used to provide fine chemicals it is processed using chemical synthesis and/or enzymatic methods to convert high volume and low value feedstocks such as cellulose to high value chemicals such as xylose, glucans and fructans.

Current interest in biomass is driven by advances in new technologies that are making biofuels and biomass derived chemicals economically viable. Regulatory pressures associated with conserving greenhouse gas emissions are stimulating the further development of this industry. All biomass is considered to be potentially carbon neutral with regard to carbon dioxide emissions. This is because when biomass is grown it stores carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as biomass, when this is burned, fermented or processed the carbon dioxide can be released. The net effect of carbon dioxide release is potentially neutral.

However, a whole life cycle view must be taken because processing and transport of biomass can add greenhouse gas emissions to biomass feedstocks. Producing biomass will also require energy and fossil fuel inputs and these must be accounted for to obtain a realistic life cycle view. These product life cycle emissions can be kept to a minimum by keeping all processing operations at a biorefinery that is close to feedstock supply and customers of power, chemical and fuel.

Information on biomass and developing biomass energy facilities is provided by the Biomass Energy Centre. The Forestry Research who assist the Forestry Commission also provide a database of a selection of wood fuel providers in the UK on a Wood Resource website. The National Non-Food Crops Centre provides a portal to a range of biofuel and biomass resources in the UK.