Conceptual investment framework for biofuels and biorefineries research and development
2010
O’Connell, Deborah | Haritos, Victoria S
Second-generation biofuels have the potential to alleviate increasing global concerns about oil security and greenhouse gas emissions. However, they require further R&D before they can be widely deployed. There is a strong imperative for effective R&D to be delivered in a short timeframe, in an integrated manner across the diverse sectors that constitute a biofuel value chain. We present a conceptual investment framework for R&D that identifies elements needed for a successful strategy. It includes research in individual segments of the biofuel value chain: biomass production; transport and preprocessing; conversion technologies; product development and product markets; matching feedstock production systems to economically viable processing systems and matching transportation biofuels, combustion technologies and engine design. Several aspects of R&D must be conducted on issues that emerge from the whole-value chain, including sustainability, institutional frameworks, communication and information dissemination and capacity building. The last element of the conceptual framework is integration. A whole-system view is required to position the strategic contribution of biofuels to the future energy mix. This article is targeted toward strategic planners, policy developers, R&D providers and financial supporters, national and regional governments and industry, and professional and industry bodies as a guide to R&D planning.
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