Commercializing Second-generation Biofuels: Scaling Up Sustainable Supply Chins and the Role of Public Policy

While investments in second-generation biofuels in the United States will continue to depend on government support in the medium-term, the broad-based coalition for biofuels policy that existed in 2007 has eroded over the past seven years. Sustainability metrics to assess biofuel pathways remain a m...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy File 2014
Main Authors: Huenteler, Joern, Anadon, Laura Diaz, Lee, Henry, Santen, Nidhi R
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Energy
Environment
Government
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:While investments in second-generation biofuels in the United States will continue to depend on government support in the medium-term, the broad-based coalition for biofuels policy that existed in 2007 has eroded over the past seven years. Sustainability metrics to assess biofuel pathways remain a matter of debate in the US. The US EPA's process of annually revising the volumetric mandates for cellulosic biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard has become a source of great uncertainty for investors. Second-generation biofuel investments are capital-intensive, involve large risks and have a long time-to-market. Finding ways to provide a relatively certain price signal for cellulosic biorefineries over the investment life-time will be crucial to incentivize additional commercial-scale produc-tion.