Ensuring sustainable cellulosic bioethanol production

Using detailed process analysis to identify ways to reduce water consumption

As the world's energy demands grow, cellulosic ethanol is increasingly seen as an important source of renewable energy. The production method behind cellulosic ethanol, however, can be water intensive. To address these concerns, Novozymes A/S asked us to determine how water consumption during cellulosic ethanol production compares to conventional gasoline production. We found that water consumption during cellulosic ethanol production is comparable to, or in some cases lower than, conventional gasoline production.