Developing cellulosic biofuels supply chains

摘要

There is a lot of exciting research in progress on the different components of the second-generation biofuels supply chains - feedstocks, conversion, end use and so on. However, there is relatively little on development and optimizing of biofuels supply chains. Optimizing the supply chain means sustainably producing and delivering to end users biofuels at the lowest total system cost possible. When we find the lowest cost per ton of feedstock that does not mean it will, at the end of the chain, lead to the lowest cost fuel. Similarly, when we find an efficient conversion process, it may not lead to the lowest cost fuel unless the fuel has the end use characteristics required and can make use of low-cost feedstocks.