DOE
Mission Focus:
Biofuels
The U.S.
Department
of Energy
(DOE) has
set a goal
of displacing
30% of 2004
gasoline demand
with biofuels,
primarily
ethanol, by
2030. Achieving
this ambitious
goal will
require a
rapid expansion
of the fuel
ethanol industry-annual
U.S. production
will need
to increase
from about
4 billion
gallons of
corn grain
ethanol to
about 60 billion
gallons per
year from
a variety
of plant materials.
To address
critical scientific
barriers that
must be overcome
to advance
the biofuels
industry,
the U.S. Department
of Energy's
Genomics:GTL
systems biology
program is
creating a
new generation
of biological
research enabled
by the genome
revolution.
GTL will provide
a systems-level
approach to
understanding
and manipulating
plants and
microorganisms
central to
producing
biofuels.
As part of
this effort,
the Office
of Science
and Office
of Energy
Efficiency
and Renewable
Energy held
a joint workshop
on Biomass
to Biofuels
in December
2005.
Biofuels
Primer
The following
fact sheets
introduce
biofuels and
their potential
for reducing
U.S. dependence
on petroleum-based
transportation
fuels, explain
the basics
of fuel ethanol
production
and the importance
of biotechnology
in improving
this process,
identify some
benefits and
challenges
associated
with converting
biomass to
ethanol, and
summarize
policy and
legislation
driving biofuels
development.
Biofuels
for Transportation
- What
is biomass?
- What
are biofuels
and how
much does
the U.S.
produce?
- What
are current
levels of
gasoline
and diesel
consumption?
- What
is current
U.S. oil
consumption
and how
much of
that is
imported?
- How many
gallons
of gasoline
come from
a barrel
of oil?
- How much
ethanol
can we get
from an
acre of
bioenergy
crops?
- Can one
gallon of
ethanol
displace
one gallon
of gasoline?
- Can ethanol
be used
by vehicles
and fuel
distribution
systems
today?
- Can ethanol
be used
in colder
northern
U.S. climates?
Fuel Ethanol
Production
- How is
ethanol
currently
produced
from corn?
- How is
ethanol
produced
from cellulosic
biomass?
- What
are key
biological
barriers
to cellulosic
ethanol
production?
- How can
Genomics:GTL
improve
production
of cellulosic
ethanol
and other
biofuels?
Cellulosic
Ethanol: Benefits
and Challenges
- How will
cellulosic
ethanol
production
and use
impact the
environment?
- How would
an expanded
fuel ethanol
industry
benefit
the economy
and national
security?
- Is there
enough land
for large-scale
biofuels
production?
- Does
it take
more energy
to produce
ethanol
than it
can provide
as a fuel?
Biofuels
Policy and
Legislation
- Energy
Policy Act
of 2005
- The 2002
Farm Bill:
Title IX
- Biomass
R&D
Act of 2000
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