Main navigation

Daily news

Demand increasing for sustainable biofuel production

13 August 2008

As the debate continues over whether the production of biofuels is leading to an increase in deforestation and food price hikes, the demand to make ethanol from sustainable sources is growing.

According to the innovations report, many businesses are looking for ways to produce ethanol from cellulosic sources such as wood and hay.

The innovations report website has stated that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) details ways to extract sugars from biomass, which should help engineers to produce more efficient processes.

Yadu Tewari, a chemist at NIST and one of the authors of a paper on ethanol production, said the results of their test should represent "a small but significant step toward maximizing the efficiency of biomass utilisation".

Oil giant BP recently announced that it would be investing $90 million (£47 million) in US biofuels producer Verenium Corp to develop and commercialise the next-generation of biofuels.

In order to create the partnership, the two companies formed a Special Purpose Entity. This means that the business is equally owned by BP and Verenium.