Report: Japan Plans to Export Production Process For Rice-Straw Cellulosic Bioethanol
07 January 2008
The Nikkei reports that the Japanese government plans to develop a low-cost production process for cellulosic bioethanol derived from rice straw, and as early as fiscal 2009 to offer the know-how to other Asian rice-producing countries.
Japan is hoping to secure stable energy sources by supporting other Asian nations in the production of rice straw ethanol, according to the report. Rice straw is not consumed as food and is often discarded.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries plans to start in fiscal 2008 experimenting in production processes for rice-straw derived biofuel. The technology to extract bioethanol from the straw is already available, so the ministry aims to put the technology into a commercially viable process by building up know-how in everything from collecting and delivering the straw, to producing and using the resultant fuel.
The government intends to extend support to China and Thailand when they build biofuel plants and begin fuel production, to contribute toward taking these countries’ production methods to a globally competitive level from the get-go.
"low cost production method" Not to sound simplistic but isn't it crush rice straw, add yeast, and let nature take over?
Posted by: gr | 07 January 2008 at 12:04 PM
gr, as I understand cellulosic ethanol production, yeast cannot break down the primary carbohydrates in cellulose and hence other methods are needed to make it available. Furthermore, purification of ethanol is energy intensive in itself.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol
Posted by: Philip | 07 January 2008 at 02:07 PM
Without a subscription to Nikkei it is difficult to pass much comment but it sounds like the Japanese govt are about sharing technology to their rice growing neighbours in Asia. This would help the bioethanol industry by increasing the reliability of supply. Assuming the market place is somewhat global, this move will shore up a the development, reliability and in the combined larger marketplace assist the development of efficient technology and application.
A win win. More power to them!
Posted by: arnold | 07 January 2008 at 02:09 PM
Point being made is making alcohol from any biomass is relatively simple. Yeast, enzymes, GMOs, whatever... Too many people want to make ethanol @ $3.00 to 4.00 / gallon so they can gouge consumers. Hillbillies been makin' ethanol in back woods stills for a thousand years.
Posted by: sulleny | 07 January 2008 at 11:52 PM
Some information might be shared by 2009 but I would have thought it would be more like 5 years before anything comes of it.
Posted by: DavidJ | 08 January 2008 at 08:55 AM