User:Energywebbed/Mapjects unified biofuel extraction for farm feedstock

Mapjects unified biofuel extraction for farm feedstock, changes in biofuel processing ...

References

• USDA.gov

External links

• mapjects.com
• USDA.gov

Common challenges with biofuels and extraction are a combination of rising costs, inconsistent and shrinking supplies, subsidized prices of fossil fuels to meet our transportation energy needs. Scientific studies have shown the most promising of possible alternatives to be liquid fuels derived from cellulosic biomass. Some companies like SPIC and Mapjects have achieved cellulosic biomass processing regardless of the type or source of feedstock. The USDA has been supporting other forms like ethanol as an alternative corn product, however this industry has lacked innovation.

Both SPIC and Mapjects realized the estimated production and capital costs for next-generation biofuel production are significantly higher than for first-generation biofuels, so they opted to make modular processing plants.

The challenges in modular processing plants, is establishing the consistency of the finished product, which could heavily impact the final blend.

For e.g. the costs for a 100 million gallon biochemical conversion plant (e.g., cellulosic ethanol) at $320 million, and the costs for a 100 million gallon thermochemical conversion plant (e.g., gasification and conversion to liquid fuels) at $340 million. Mapjects has reduced the cost of production to 25%, but modular utilization, mixed feed stock and other techniques. SPIC did the same with a larger scale approach. The USDA report mentioned the obstacles, but left the small scale industries out in processing. This is the new approach to economies of scale in production.

There are downsides to the Mapjects approach, where large economies of scale are hard to achieve. So, it will interesting to view and forecast how the transportation needs will be met.