Biorefineries: Project Comparison Reveals Leadership Gap

Historical biorefinery commercial experience in North America is reviewed. A comprehensive summary of commercial activities in fuels (liquids and gases), bioenergy production, and the biorefinery are presented. There are substantial, commercial activities in North America but the large pulp and paper companies are not in the forefront of this activity. The only pulp and paper companies with commercial biorefinery activities tend to be the smaller or small independent pulp and paper companies. A comparison of the U.S. department of energy (DOE) funded projects with "section 932" grants is made. They show non-pulp and paper companies have considerable pilot experience and have the willingness to risk millions on scale-up for technologies valued by society (i.e., biomass to energy). This willingness gives the non-pulp and paper companies the opportunity to lead and develop technical and commercial experience at the plant scale. A new model will be needed by the pulp and paper industry if it is to avoid losing its historical place as the unquestioned leader in cellulose and lignin separations, conversion technology, and commercial distribution of forest-service products and materials.