According to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) “Annual Energy Outlook 2007” underestimates growth in cellulosic ethanol production.
The EIA says there will be slow growth and it will reach only 300 million gallons per year by 2030, which is just above the 250 million that is required by 2013 under the Renewable Fuels Standard of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
“The Energy Information Administration’s calculations fail to take into account recent developments in the ethanol industry that will ramp up production of ethanol from cellulose,” said Brent Erickson, executive vice president of BIO’s Industrial and Environmental Section. “With industrial biotech processes ready for deployment and production – by companies such as Abengoa, Iogen, Broin and Mascoma – and currently available feedstock from agricultural residues, ethanol production could reach three times current levels within three to five years as ethanol from cellulose is added to the current biofuel technology mix.”
According to the EIA, growth in corn-based ethanol production will reach 13.6 billion gallons per year by 2030, which is in agreement with the U.S. Dept of Agriculture and Dept. of Energy predictions.
“Recent announcements by several companies indicate cellulosic biomass ethanol units will either be added to existing ethanol plants or will be built separately within the next two years,” added Erickson. “This is real evidence the EIA report does not adequately account for rapid growth in production of ethanol from cellulose we see coming.”
BIO represents over 1,100 biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations in the U.S. and 31 other countries. BIO members are involved in the research and development of healthcare, agricultural, industrial and environmental biotechnology products.