-- Purposely grown crops will never yield enough biomass. A hectare of soybeans roughly translates into 200 kilograms of plastic or 197 liters of diesel -- a comparatively low yield. Even non-food crops like jatropha, which can grow on traditionally non-arable land, put unsustainable demands on the planet's limited water resources. -- Slowly falling cultivation costs position waste biomass as the best option. Of biotechnologies four main feedstock classes -- crops, algae, waste, and CO2 -- waste is the near-term winner. Some 316 million dry tons of waste biomass from forestlands and 534 million dry tons of crop residues and other waste handily exceed oil equivalents; and at a cost of $40 per barrel of oil equivalent (BOE), the cost of these materials are lower than other feedstocks. -- Retrofitting existing petroleum, paper and bioethanol plants could slash production costs. To reduce cost, biofuel manufacturers will need to integrate with existing facilities in pulp and paper, or food processing -- many of which employ the same processes applied in petrochemical production. Not only would this approach lower capital costs for bio-based products, it would also provide access to transportation and other infrastructure."Biofuels' and Biomaterials' Path to Petroleum Parity" is part of the Lux Biofuels and Biomaterials Intelligence service. Clients subscribing to this service receive ongoing research on bioscience market and technology trends, continuous technology scouting reports and proprietary data points in the weekly Lux Research Biosciences Journal, and on-demand inquiry with Lux Research analysts. About Lux Research Lux Research provides strategic advice and on-going intelligence for emerging technologies. Leaders in business, finance and government rely on us to help them make informed strategic decisions. Through our unique research approach focused on primary research and our extensive global network, we deliver insight, connections and competitive advantage to our clients. Visit www.luxresearchinc.com for more information.
Contact Information: Contact: Carole Jacques Lux Research, Inc. 617-502-5314 carole.jacques@luxresearchinc.com