The Green House Gas (GHG) reducing credentials of biofuels - particularly first generation biofuels produced from oil or grain crops - has been the subject of much debate. However, emissions reduction is only part of the picture. Assuming a medium-term reduction in the availability of cheap oil, there is arguably no viable alternative to liquid transport fuels, for long distance freight and aviation. Hence there is a technical requirement for fuels that are derived from biomass feedstock such as wastes. Biofuels can be produced from a variety of feedstocks; lignocellulosic energy crops, multi purpose crops, residues/wastes from agriculture and forestry, industrial wastes, Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and aquatic biomass. Over recent decades significant R&D and pilot activities has taken place in the EU aimed at enlarging the feedstock base for biofuels to cover a range of sustainable sources and to develop processing technologies. However, while dvanced biofuel technology is being developed, large volumes of advanced biofuels are not yet available, and production is still mainly based on demonstration units. One tool being developed to help accelerate the demonstration of advanced sustainable bioenergy in Europe is the European Industrial Bioenergy Initiative (EIBI). Based on the SET Plan (Strategic Energy Technology Plan) proposal in 2006, six Industrial Initiatives are being developed, including one for bioenergy. The key objective of the EIBI, developed jointly by the European Commission and the European Biofuels Technology Platform (EBTP), is to enable commercial availability of advanced bioenergy by 2020, which could provide a significant contribution to the bioenergy markets with large scale deployment. This would involve a mix of large single units or larger numbers of smaller units, with production costs competitive with fossil fuels, enabling advanced biofuels to cover up to 4% of the energy required by the EU for transportation needs by 2020. The EIBI is based on seven generic value chains covering a range of bioenergy production potential, with each having a specific combination of feedstock, processing technologies and marketable end products.
http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/display/article-display/1306426883/articles/waste-management-world/volume-12/issue-6/features/biowaste-driving-fuels.html