Ethanol Developments

In recent years the global economy has become increasingly reliant on finite reserves of fossil fuels. Transportation fuels account for a major portion of this utilization, with millions of barrels of oil being consumed daily. Alternative resources that are renewable, produced locally, and are environmentally-acceptable, would be good candidates for future contributions towards sustainable development. Bio-based fuels, such as ethanol, meet these criteria while also providing the opportunities to generate stronger rural economic infrastructures, and to help lower the anthropogenic effects on the global climate.

Currently, ethanol production is viable and desirable. In addition, new scientific breakthroughs offer exciting improvements on a continuous basis including developments such as:

• biotechnology applications that improve the feedstock for use in industrial processing

• more efficient enzymes (bio-catalysts), created via molecular evolution, integrated into effective bio-processing methods

• novel design of facility infrastructures, including the "industrial village" or "biorefinery concepts" to maximize economic return

The emerging “bio-industry platform” is becoming a major foundation for driving significant progress over the next 20-50 years. Ethanol is a cornerstone in that foundation and will lead the practical application of technologies that allow the creation of an attractive and sustainable market.