Posted Jan 17th 2007 8:42AM
There's some good info about the markets, feedstocks and science of it all at http://www.ssi.shimadzu.com/apps/files/SSI_Biofuels_Whitepaper.pdf
January 18 2007 at 5:27 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAgree with the earlier sentiments. Canola will be the biggest in 2010, but long term algae by far makes the most sense. As long as the US govt doesn't keep forking over handouts to soy farmers to buy votes from the Mid-West (same for ethanol via corn).
January 17 2007 at 6:18 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat the majority of biodiesel will be made from in 2010 will not be the same as what the eventual winner will be. Three years isn't long enough for algae to come of age, but that's where my money is in the long run. Give it 5-8 years and algae biodiesel will be mainstream, and displacing foodstock-based biodiesel. As for 2010, canola's got my vote, but I hope Jatropha comes on strong soon.
January 17 2007 at 9:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI think the biggest near term trend is going to be toward greater diversification. Here is the recent tale of a biodiesel producer's wealth of potential feedstocks: http://energy.biofuels.coop/2007/01/09/vp-of-sludge/ . For ethanol there is great interest in non-corn crops as well: http://domesticfuel.com/?p=1292
January 17 2007 at 9:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI think in the 2010 time frame most will still be coming from canola or soy, but longer term, possibly by 2015, algae will definitely be the way to go.
January 17 2007 at 9:18 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAll of the above. Each region will have their favorite feedstock and feedstock crops will be rotated depending on the needs of the soil that year. Even if 2010 is the year of the PHEV, we will still need renewable carbon-nutral fuel for the range extender engines and all those millions of IC vehicles still on the road. It will take decades to get rid of them all… if ever.
January 17 2007 at 9:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply
