Biofuel production hydrogen

Assessments of such resources differentiate between the physical (or theoretical), practical (ortechnical) and realizable (oreconomic) potential within a given timeframe. According to a recent study of the renewable energy potentials in the OECD countries and the ERICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the total renewable energy potential amounts to approximately 9,000 TWh electricity, 5,700 TWh heat, and 1,700 TWh biofuels for transport in the 2020 perspective for these countries (OECD, 2008). The European shares of these potentials, shown in Table 12.5, can be rich sources of either classical biofuels or hydrogen production. 

Like coal, indigenous first-generation biofuels from Europe are not competitive with the products of large foreign producers. For second-generation technologies, the biomass resources shown in Table 12.5 can be rich sources of either classical biofuels or hydrogen production. 

The increasing energy demands have directed the attention to renewable resources for the fabrication of biofuels. The exploitation of feedstocks containing polysaccharides other than cellulose is of interest for biofuel production. The aspects of the production of biofuels, including biodiesel, bioethanol, methane, and hydrogen are subject of a detailed monograph (1)... 

Termites can produce two liters of biofuel, molecular hydrogen, or H, by fermenting just one sheet of paper with microbes that live in their guts. Study of the biochemical pathways involved in Hj production in termite guts may lead to application of this process industrially. 

Biofuel generation from sweet sorghum Fermentative hydrogen production and anaerobic digestion of the remaining biomass. Biores. Technol. 99 (1), 110-119. 

In the renewable scenario, 50% of the hydrogen must come from renewable sources from 2020 on. Biomass is the cheapest renewable option, but has a limited potential, as the competition between hydrogen, biofuels and other uses has to be considered. Offshore wind via electrolysis could, therefore, play a very important role for hydrogen production after 2020. Onsite SMR also dominates here in the early phase. 

The alternative fuels and drive systems available only seem to be viable on the mass market, if the oil price stays above 60 to 70 /bbl for a sustained period. Oil prices peaked above 140 /bbl in summer 2008 and many experts believe that stable oil prices over 100 /bbl could be reached in the next one or two decades. The higher the market prices of fossil fuels, the more competitive low-carbon alternatives will become The principal choice here is between biofuels, electricity and hydrogen, provided that they are produced either from low/zero-carbon feedstock or that the C02 generated during their production is captured and stored. But higher priced conventional oil resources, on the other hand, can also be replaced by high-carbon alternatives such as oil sands, oil shale or synthetic fuels from coal and gas. 

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