Impact of Product Diversification on the Economic Sustainability of Second-Generation Ethanol Biorefineries: A Critical Review

Impact of Product Diversification on the Economic Sustainability of Second-Generation Ethanol Biorefineries: A Critical Review

The replacement of fossil-based products with renewable alternatives is today a major research topic. Biofuels, such as second-generation ethanol, offer a promising way to overcome dependence on fossil fuels. However, second-generation biorefineries still face bottlenecks that hinder their economic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energies (Basel) Vol. 16; no. 17; p. 6384
Main Authors: Shibukawa, Vinícius P., Ramos, Lucas, Cruz-Santos, Mónica M., Prado, Carina A., Jofre, Fanny M., de Arruda, Gabriel L., da Silva, Silvio S., Mussatto, Solange I., dos Santos, Júlio C.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-09-2023
Subjects:
2G ethanol
Acetaldehyde
Alcohol
Alcohol, Denatured
Alternative energy sources
Barley
Biodiesel fuels
Biofuels
Biogas
Biological products
Biomass
Biomass energy
biorefineries
Carbon
Cellulose
Diversification
Diversification in industry
Economic aspects
Energy minerals
Enzymes
Ethanol
Fossil fuels
Lignin
Lignocellulose
Raw materials
Simulation
Simulation methods
Software utilities
Sugarcane
Sustainability
Sustainable development
techno-economic assessment
Brazil
China
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Summary:The replacement of fossil-based products with renewable alternatives is today a major research topic. Biofuels, such as second-generation ethanol, offer a promising way to overcome dependence on fossil fuels. However, second-generation biorefineries still face bottlenecks that hinder their economic sustainability. These include challenges in pretreatment (formation of inhibitors and high costs of chemicals) and hydrolysis (high enzyme costs and low solid content) and maximizing the utilization of biomass components. To achieve economic sustainability, biorefineries can adopt approaches such as integrating first and second generation (1G and 2G) technologies, using different production alternatives, or diversifying the product portfolio. This last alternative could include the simultaneous production of biomaterials, building blocks, and others from all fractions of the materials, favoring biorefinery profitability. Techno-economic assessment plays a crucial role in assessing the economic feasibility of these approaches and provides important information about the process. This article discusses how product diversification in cellulosic biorefineries enhances their economic sustainability, based on simulation techniques and techno-economic analysis, with a comprehensive and critical review of current possibilities and future trends. The information discussed can inform stakeholders about investing in 2G ethanol biorefineries, including strategies, associated risks, and profitability, allowing better planning of different options of future ventures.
ISSN:1996-1073
1996-1073
DOI:10.3390/en16176384