Bioenergy and the Sustainable Revolution

Abstract

In this chapter, we will discuss some unexpected consequences that renewable energy policies might present for technological development and present an overview about the main current approaches to produce Biofuels. The technological barriers and alternatives investigated to overcome them are also discussed. In the first section, we argue that such radical changes in the way we think and sustain our development might imply that we are facing a new revolution in our energy production system. We proceed to elucidate some principles that are likely to determine the ideal and actual scenario of renewable fuels, including how ethanol can succeed and how biotechnological approaches chosen to produce second generation ethanol imply coping with the high complexity of lignocellulosic material. We also discuss the principles of biodiesel production, the importance of this incipient biofuel might offer to the setting of ethanol industry. Finally, we discuss the advantages and main perspectives in the short-term developments expected by the promising area of themochemistry to biofuel production.