Conceptual investment framework for biofuels and biorefineries research and development

Abstract

Second-generation biofuels have the potential to alleviate increasing global concerns about oil security and greenhouse gas emissions. However, they require further R&D before they can be widely deployed. There is a strong imperative for effective R&D to be delivered in a short timeframe, in an integrated manner across the diverse sectors that constitute a biofuel value chain. We present a conceptual investment framework for R&D that identifies elements needed for a successful strategy. It includes research in individual segments of the biofuel value chain: biomass production; transport and preprocessing; conversion technologies; product development and product markets; matching feedstock production systems to economically viable processing systems and matching transportation biofuels, combustion technologies and engine design. Several aspects of R&D must be conducted on issues that emerge from the whole-value chain, including sustainability, institutional frameworks, communication and information dissemination and capacity building. The last element of the conceptual framework is integration. A whole-system view is required to position the strategic contribution of biofuels to the future energy mix. This article is targeted toward strategic planners, policy developers, R&D providers and financial supporters, national and regional governments and industry, and professional and industry bodies as a guide to R&D planning.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the 2007 report authors and workshop participants: Sonia Graham, Damien Farine, Michael O’Connor, David Batten, Barrie May, John Raison, Andrew Braid, Michael Dunlop, Tom Beer, Cameron Begley, Mick Poole, David Lamb, Charlie McElhone, Roslyn Prinsley and Les Edye. We also thank Andrew Warden, John Oakeshott, Cameron Begley, John Bartle and Roy Chamberlain for comments and formal review of this manuscript and Michael O’Connor for the diagrams. Three anonymous external reviewers provided incisive and thoughtful commentary and we are grateful for their contribution to improving this paper.

No writing assistance other than that disclosed was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation originally commissioned the development of an Australian R&D framework to underpin their own R&D program in 2007. The CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship cofunded the work. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.