Second and Third Generation Biofuels: Sustainability, Technological Progress, and Scalability for Future Energy Systems

Abstract

There is an increasing need of the world to have a reliable source of energy, which is sustainable and this has increased the knowledge on advanced biofuels to substitute fossil fuels [1]. First generation biofuels were associated with great anxiety on the issue of food security, land use, and environmental sustainability[2]. Second and third-generation biofuels have come forward to come up with solutions to these problems [3]. Second-generation biofuels plant the lignocellulosic biomass, that is, agricultural waste, forestry waste, and non-food crop [3][4], whereas the third-generation biofuels are mostly obtained by algae and other aquatic the biomass [5]. This paper provides a descriptive research of the sustainability, technological advancement and scalability of biofuels, second and third generation[6]. The paper examines the literature available to determine the availability of feedstock, production technology, effects on the environment and its economic viability [7]. As it has been discussed, second generation biofuels are about to become commercially viable and third-generation biofuels have a higher long term potential because they are more productive and can be produced on less land [5]. Nonetheless, difficulties on production costs, and technical complexity, and massive infrastructure are still substantial hindrances[8]. Sustainable development of advanced biofuel systems must be continued through research, support of policy, and technological development [9][10].