The grass is half-full : new biofuels from field to wheel

Abstract

The current biofuels market in the United States is dominated by ethanol made from corn. But corn ethanol has limitations that will prevent it from displacing a large amount of fossil fuel use in the U.S. To achieve that goal, biofuels will need to come from different sources. Cellulose, one of the main candidates, looks like it could provide a much higher volume of ethanol. The Department of Energy has sponsored new research centers to investigate cellulosic ethanol and improve the technology necessary to produce it. Even so, questions remain about the true potential of biofuels in the future alternative energy market.