Roadmap for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States: Plant Science, Markets, Feedstock Systems, Harvesting and Treatment, Biorefinery, Oils, Sugars, and Protein Platforms

The United States has become increasingly dependent on imported petroleum to meet its energy needs. A more diverse portfolio of feedstocks for our nation's energy and chemical supply must be found to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and secure future domestic energy supply. Biomass resources are a sustainable and environmentally-friendly feedstock that can contribute significantly to a diverse energy portfolio. Electricity, transportation fuels, chemicals, and materials currently produced from petroleum and natural gas can instead be produced from biomass.

The Roadmap for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States identifies research and policy measures needed for converting our nation's biomass resources into economically and environmentally desirable biobased fuels, power, and products. It represents the collective assessment of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee, as well as experts from industry, academia, and government. The research strategies outlined in the Roadmap will help achieve the goals established by the Committee's Vision for Bioenergy and Biobased Products in the United States.

Introduction * Biomass R&D Technical Advisory Committee * Roadmap Update Process * Roadmap Structure * Progress in Achieving 2002 Vision Goals * Key Recommendations for Achieving "Twenty in Ten" Goal * Feedstocks * Processing and Conversion * Infrastructure * End-Use Markets * Barriers to Vision Goals * Feedstock Barriers * Plant Science, Genetics and Genomics * Harvesting and Treatment * Resource Management and Sustainable Development * Economic Analysis * Processing and Conversion * Transportation, Storage and Distribution Infrastructure * End-Use Markets * Region-Specific Barriers * Additional Barriers * Research and Development Strategies * Feedstock Systems * Plant Science Genetics and Genomics * Harvesting & Treatment * Resource Management and Sustainable Development * Economic Analysis * Processing and Conversion * Analysis of Processes Found in Nature * Oils, Sugars, and Protein Platforms * New Approaches to Separations * Modular and Decentralized Preprocessing and Conversion Systems * Biodiesel Production * Conversion Processes * Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Infrastructure * Pipelines * Rail, Barge, and Highway * Systems Integration * End-Use Markets * Crosscutting Processes and Technologies * Biorefinery Demonstration and Deployment * Data and Information * Transportation Studies * Integrated Systems Analysis * Metrics Development * Other Analytical Studies * Policy and Other Enabling Measures * Feedstock Systems * Pre-Processing and Conversion * Infrastructure Systems * End-Use Markets * Crosscutting Measures