| Crude oil is the most important source of energy accounting for 35% of the world's energy consumption. With the increasing demand in crude oil, experts have estimated that the "peak of oil", where half of the worldwide resources are depleted and the delivery rates can not be augmented, will be met soon. Although crude oil, natural gas and coal will still remain the most important sources of energy until at least 2050, the fact remains that alternative solutions for crude oil have to be found.
Therefore, the demand for renewable energy is increasing and biofuels are one alternative energy source as a substitution possibility for crude oil. Biofuels using renewable resources can lead to a higher security of supply, a better environment, higher national added value and an increase in income in rural regions. Especially interesting are technologies for the production of second generation biofuels from lignocellulose. The term second generation means that, contrary to biofuels of the first generation (bioethanol from sugar or starch containing plants or biodiesel from rape seed or palm oil), raw materials are used which are not used for the production of food products. |
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