Wednesday, April 23, 2008
U.S. Biofuel Startup Turns to Brazil
High corn prices have driven Amyris out of the country in search of cheaper feedstocks.
By Kevin Bullis
High corn prices are driving next-generation biofuel startups out of the country, and that could be a good thing. Today, Amyris, a company that's genetically engineering microorganisms to convert sugar into hydrocarbons such as diesel, announced partnerships that will pave the way for it to use sugar that's derived from sugarcane grown in Brazil rather than sugar derived from corn. Recently, corn prices have skyrocketed, reaching record levels of over $6 a bushel. That's made it very difficult for ethanol producers to make money. Sugarcane provides a cheaper alternative to corn, and that's one of the reasons that Amyris is turning to Brazil, says Jeryl Hilleman, the company's chief financial officer.
The move to Brazil could be a good thing for the environment, because sugarcane requires less energy to process than corn, resulting in less carbon dioxide emissions. But ultimately, neither sugarcane nor corn is an ideal feedstock. What's needed are nonfood cellulosic sources, such as grass and wood chips, especially given the abrupt rise in food prices worldwide that have recently prompted riots in Haiti and elsewhere. (See "Battling Ethanol-Propelled Food Prices.") But so far, processes for turning such sources into sugar have been too expensive.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Comments
RD
04/24/2008
Posts:96
MakeSense
04/25/2008
Posts:89
Let's see some sources that back up your indictment of ethanol.
From what I can tell from your statements, you're extrapolating worst case scenarios based on total idiots making decisions.
Some of your assumptions may be warranted, given the last eight years of political corruption and stupidity. At some point the electorate will demand at least competence from the next administration.
For instance, I doubt that government and private enterprises will collectively adopt a new technology that will destroy storage containers and engines.
SaltyDawg
04/28/2008
Posts:1
In truth, I'd say that algal biodiesel has far better characteristics than ethanol. It requires no agricultural land (sorry, farm lobby!); it needs far less water; it produces far more fuel per acre; it would be less expensive to make; it would mix well with petroleum and use existing pipelines and refineries; it would have a much better fuel value; it would have a much better EROEI; it could be used as a clean diesel fuel for clean diesel hybrids; and it stands a much better chance of meeting technical and economic feasibility than cellulosic ethanol.
We need to purge our minds of the ethanol folks! (Pun intended.) I also propose that we begin referring to algal biodiesel as "Super Diesel from algae." Yeah! Super Diesel could replicate our current oil consumption from a desert area of 128 mi by 128 mi. But it would not have to even come close to that because clean diesel hybrids triple the gas mileage of gas vehicles.
MakeSense
04/25/2008
Posts:89
Kevin Bullis
04/28/2008
Posts:84
This dumps, admittedly, 6% more on the grid.
Granted coal can never be clean (what to do with mercury, etc?), one can sequester and feed the CO2 to algae/type life forms which give more gas (albeit inefficiently) to throw at what is left of the gas problem as it walks out the door.
I think my solution is full of holes, granted. It does kill 'gas' tho, one entire third of the problem. Anyone else?
Joyconspirac...
04/27/2008
Posts:1
MickeyFouse
11/03/2008
Posts:47