Second generation biofuels - Definition, Glossary, Details - Oilgae
Second generation biofuel technologies have been developed because first generation biofuels manufacture has important limitations. First generation biofuel processes are useful, but limited: there is a threshold above which they cannot produce enough biofuel without threatening food supplies and biodiversity. They are not cost competitive with existing fossil fuels such as oil, and some of them produce only limited greenhouse gas emissions savings. When taking emissions from production and transport into account, life-cycle emissions from first-generation biofuels frequently exceed those of traditional fossil fuels.Second generation biofuels can help solve these problems and can supply a larger proportion of our fuel supply sustainably, affordably, and with greater environmental benefits.The goal of second generation biofuel processes is to extend the amount of biofuel that can be produced sustainably by using biomass comprised of the residual non-food parts of current crops, such as them stems, leaves and husks that are left behind once the food crop has been extracted, as well as other crops that are not used for food purposes, such as switch grass, cereals that bear little grain and more fibre, and also industry waste such as wood chips, skins and pulp from fruit pressing etc.SourceSecond (2nd)-generation biofuels are those biofuels produced from cellulose, hemicellulose or lignin. A 2nd-generation biofuel can either be blended with petroleum-based fuels, combusted in existing internal combustion engines, and distributed through existing infrastructure or is dedicated for the use in slightly adapted vehicles with internal combustion engines (e.g. vehicles for DME). Examples of 2nd-generation biofuels are cellulosic ethanol and Fischer-Tropsch fuels. Source
