Bioenergy

The term bioenergy refers to heat, electricity and/or power generated from the combustion of biomass.  Examples include direct firing of fuel wood and wood pellets in small scale boilers and stoves, biomass in power plants, co-firing of biomass with fossil-based resources such as coal or natural gas, and combined heat and electrical power production (also known as cogeneration or CHP: Combined Heat and Power).  Bioenergy may be used in individual homes and businesses, district heating applications, and in small- to mid-scale electrical power generation.

By the FAO's definition, bio-energy is produced from biofuels (solid, liquid fuels and gasoues fuels) and can come from a variety of sources, including crops like sugar cane and beet, corn and energy grass or from fuel wood, agricultural wastes and by-products, forestry residues, livestock manure and other sources.

Biofuels

The broad definition of biofuels is “biomass (solids, liquids and gases) to be used for the production of bioenergy [1].”  However, in the common language biofuels are used in transport. In this case biofuels are the liquid or gaseous products from biomass to be used as a fuel in transportation. Within IEA Bioenergy agreement, Task 39 we use this narrow definition of biofuels.

Biorefinery

The economic and ecologic performance of bioenergy production and use can be improved by a holistic approach. Biofuels platforms can be used not only for energy but also for raw materials for the industry. Products can be made from main or by products of different 1st and 2nd generation biofuels production chains, e.g. from synthesis gas of thermal gasification or fibre residues from biogas production and others.

Source: http://www.eere.energy.gov/biomass/sugar_platform.html

The term biorefinery refers to a facility (or group of facilities) which combines the production of materials, chemicals, or fuel products with energy production.  Material bioproducts include traditional fibre-based products, such as lumber, pulp and paper, as well as alternative products such as bioplastics.  Biochemicals include bulk polymers and platform chemicals used in industrial processes. 

First (1st)-generation biofuels

First (1st)-generation biofuels are biofuels which are on the market in considerable amounts today. Typical 1st-generation biofuels are sugarcane ethanol, starch-based or ‘corn’ ethanol, biodiesel and Pure Plant Oil (PPO) The feedstock for producing 1st generation biofuels either consists of  sugar, starch and oil bearing crops or animal fats that in most cases can also be used as food and feed or consists of food residues. A 1st-generation biofuel is characterized either by its ability to be blended with petroleum-based fuels, combusted in existing internal combustion engines, and distributed through existing infrastructure, or by the use in existing alternative vehicle technology like FFVs (“Flexible Fuel Vehicle”) or natural gas vehicles.  The production of 1st-generation biofuels is commercial today, with almost 50 billion litres produced annually.  There are also other niche biofuels, such as biogas which have been derived by anaerobic treatment of manure and other biomass materials.  However, the volumes of biogas used for transportation are relatively small today.

Second (2nd)-generation biofuels

Second (2nd)-generation biofuels are those biofuels produced from cellulose, hemicellulose or lignin.  A 2nd-generation biofuel can either be blended with petroleum-based fuels, combusted in existing internal combustion engines, and distributed through existing infrastructure or is dedicated for the use in slightly adapted vehicles with internal combustion engines (e.g. vehicles for DME).  Examples of 2nd-generation biofuels are cellulosic ethanol and Fischer-Tropsch fuels.  The production of 2nd-generation biofuels is non-commercial at the time of writing (2007), although pilot and demonstration facilities are being developed, as described later in this document.

Synthetic Biofuels

Synthetic Biofuels are 2nd generation biofuels are synthesized from gases made by thermal gasification of biomass, e.g.:

• Fischer-Tropsch fuels: Fuels for compression-ignition (=Diesel) engines or spark ignition (gasoline) engines, also named BtL fuels (“Biomass to Liquid” fuels).
• SNG, synthetic natural gas produced by thermochemical processes.
• Dimethylether (DME), a gaseous fuel for compression-ignition engines.