Technoeconomic assessment of second-generation biofuel pathways: challenges and solutions

摘要

A technoeconomic assessment (TEA) is a methodology that is often used to quantify the technical and economic feasibility of facilities employing biorenewable pathways [l]. Capital costs for commercial-scale versions of such facilities can exceed hundreds of millions of dollars, and the current political focus on austerity and the modest economic recovery in the developed world has made the necessary capital financing difficult to attain. Despite these hurdles, the governments of several countries are pressing for the rapid development and commercialization of biofuel pathways in order to reduce dependence on energy imports and GHG emissions from the transportation sector. While TEA is a simplified representation of these pathways and the facilities employing them, the resulting analyses provide important insights into the comparative feasibilities of different pathways. In turn, this information guides policymakers and venture capitalists as they determine how best to allocate scarce capital resources.