Biofuels, Bio-Power, and Bio-Products from Sustainable Biomass: Coupling Energy Crops and Organic Waste with Clean Energy Technologies

Coupling sustainable biomass with emerging clean energy technologies can provide transformational opportunities for low-carbon energy and bio-based products manufacturing in developing low-carbon economy. The development and deployment of new and innovative clean energy systems may offer solutions that are environmentally sustainable, economically viable, and socially equitable. Sustainable biomass has been long discussed and is a well-debated matter. For instance, the use of first-generation biofuels, such as corn ethanol and soy bean biodiesel, have raised numerous environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land use change, loss of carbon sinks, and increased carbon release from soils. Biochemical processes include anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic waste to generate biogas and by-products that can be utilized for soil remediation and production of liquid fuels from lignocellulosic feedstocks through acid and/or enzymatic hydrolysis. The organic waste includes food waste, agricultural waste, some high moisture animal manure, yard clippings, and sludge.