High-grade fuels from biomass farming: potentials and constraints

The key parameters controlling the productivity and the cost of net high-grade fuel from a system for biomass agriculture and conversion are analyzed. Performance depends sensitively on a "symbiotic" interaction between agronomy and technology. The conditions for obtaining net productivity and costs are explored for U.S. grain alcohol as a reference point. Currently practiced technology consumes more high-grade fuel than it generates. Some potentials and constraints for future systems, including use of other plant species and conversion systems, are explored.