Drop-in replacement biofuels : meeting the challenge
Name
750011170-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
13.88 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
29ebea35433c12dd3ba247f3e67917ce
Author(s)
Bhargava, Alok (Alok Kishore)
Advisor(s)
Roberto Rigobon.
Date Issued
2011
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
This thesis presents a discussion on the challenges that must be met to fulfill the U.S. Navy's strategic imperatives for its energy vision. It provides an introduction to drop-in replacement biofuels, the options amongst the technologies and feedstock available to produce them, their current economic performance and the evolution of their commercialization. In pursuing the latter a detailed examination of the funding path towards commercialization was undertaken. The study found that the U.S. Navy's requirements for drop-in replacement biofuels for aviation are best met by hydroprocessed renewable jet fuel (HRJ). Since feedstock from sources that do not interfere with food markets are preferred, algal oil was identified as extremely promising. The study also found that hydroprocessed fuels are also not yet independently commercially viable. The study identified a critical funding gap between the time startup capital is depleted and prior to reaching the ability to raise capital in the commercial and public markets. Finally a literature survey is performed to address proposals for avoiding this "dcommercialization valley of death", analysis of the proposals and recommendations made for drop-in replacement biofuels.
Description
Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Sloan School of Management, 2011.
Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-123).
Subjects
Sloan School of Management.
MIT Department
Sloan School of Management
Terms of Use
M.I.T. theses are protected by
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but
reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written
permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.
Persistent DSpace Link
