Biorefinery: Concepts, Current Status, and Development Trends

Abstract

Bioreneries are expected to e ectively utilise abundant biomass resources in a sustainable manner in order to ensure energy security, mitigate climate change, and meet the endless demand for chemicals and materials. This paper reviews the current global status and devel opmental trends in the eld of biorenery. To date, the biorenery industry is mainly in the pilot and demonstration stages. Considerable developmental work is underway, and new biorenery concepts are expected to be commercially deployed by 2020. The deployment of bioreneries, based largely on lignocellulosic feedstock, depends on the technical maturity of a range of production processes. The combina tion of market formation and governmental support for biomass-derived products is one of the important factors in determining the type and rate of biorenery deployment.