The sugarcane biorefinery: Energy crops and processes for the production of liquid fuels and renewable commodity chemicals

In the near future, the biorefinery concept of complete utilisation of sugarcane biomass will become a pivotal element for a sustainable sugarcane industry. An industry that produces liquid fuels, electricity and commodity chemicals from a renewable source in regional communities will contribute to all elements of the triple bottom line and should be considered a compelling vision. The Cooperative Research Centre for Sugar Industry Innovation through Biotechnology (CRC-SIIB) commenced in August 2003 and has embarked on a significant program of research and development to underpin sugarcane biorefining. Fermentation to ethanol and other renewable commodities and biomass treatment processes such as pulping are key technical elements of the biorefinery concept. The Sugar Research Institute (SRI) and collaborating organisations are developing key processing technologies and products, and plan to demonstrate biorefining on a pilot scale by 2006. This presentation highlights current research activities of the CRC-SIIB and SRI, and addresses the commercial opportunities, technical barriers and path to establishing sugarcane biorefining in Australia.