Research on bioethanol production from lignocellulose-containing substrates has made great progress over the last decades. As shown by other authors and our own results, the theoretical yield of bioethanol from cellulose (690 l/t cellulose, 283 l/t straw) is almost achievable. The yield of bioethanol from hemicelluloses still has to be increased. Compared to bioethanol production of the first generation, cost-effectiveness also has to be improved. No commercial bioethanol plant using lignocellulose-containing residues as feedstock is in operation in 2011. However, diverse pilot plants are in operation and the first demonstration plants have been completed and running succesfully.

The production of biofuels such as bioethanol is often criticized because of the negative impact of the feedstock on biodiversity. The competition of the raw materials for use either as biofuel or for food production is also a major obstacle to increasing bioethanol production capacity. Therefore, lignocellulose-containing residues offer a possibility to satisfy part of the increasing demand for fuel by means of biofuel.

Diverse scenarios are possible — only using first generation fuel, resulting in dramatic increases in world prices for feedstock crops. The stimulation of the second generation results in reduced pressure on world prices for feedstock crop. It is the authors’ opinion that the higher demand for biofuels will necessarily lead to the use of lignocelluloses as feedstock to produce biofuels. In order to replace fossil fuels to a larger extent, not only agricultural residue must be used as feedstock. Agriculture has to be geared towards food as well as towards energy production. This will only be possible in the context of a coordinated international effort.

2. Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the following projects: FH Plus in Coin SteamExplo 818383; Bioethanolproduktion aus Lignocellulosen mit Steamexplosion (Fabrik der Zukunft, Projekt 814953); REGIO 13/ EFRE regional production of energy and by the country of Upper Austria and FH OOE basic financing — bioenergy.