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Biomass for energy—a review
Author(s) -
Boyles D. T.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.280361102
Subject(s) - usable , biofuel , biomass (ecology) , bioenergy , subsidy , renewable energy , enthusiasm , environmental science , biomass fuels , natural resource economics , environmental economics , waste management , economics , engineering , computer science , ecology , world wide web , electrical engineering , market economy , biology , psychology , social psychology
The enthusiasm, in recent years, for biologically derived fuels has not been repaid by the emergence of major new industries. Where they have been adopted, biofuels have needed extensive subsidies or other community support. This review examines the inherent problems of the bioenergy concept, which may ensure that biofuels will never enjoy more than a purely local exploitation. These problems derive from the relatively small usable biomass resource, its high cost and the cost of upgrading biomass to usable fuels, the unfavourable energy balance in converting high entropy feedstocks to low entropy fuels, and the anticipated effects of such processes on the environment.