1
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and the Author(s) 2018
K. Takeuchi et al. (eds.), Biofuels and Sustainability, Science for Sustainable
Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54895-9_1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Hirotaka Matsuda and Kazuhiko Takeuchi
1.1 Background and Character of Biofuel Production
Expansion
Currently, the development of biofuel expansion is found worldwide. Any energy
released from biomass through a chemical reaction is called bioenergy (Yamajji
et al. 2000). “Biomass” does not only mean biotic mass or biotic standing stock in
ecological science but also means biotic mass as an energy source because it has
been considered an alternative energy of fossil fuel since the “oil shocks” in the
early 1970s. There is no strict definition, but the generic term covers an accumulation of animal and plant resources, as well as waste materials from them, except
fossil resources, from the view of energy resources (The Japan Institute of Energy
2009). Biofuels can produce bioenergy, but it is often thought to be a fuel for transportation and is in competition with food crops. The current biofuels for transportation are mainly bioethanol and bio-diesel. These are called first-generation biofuels.
Most first-generation biofuels are produced through glycosylating, fermenting and
distilling starch ingredients of maize, wheat and potato or through fermenting and
distilling carbohydrate ingredients of sugarcane and beet. They are also produced
H. Matsuda (*)
Graduate Program in Sustainability Science – Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI),
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences/Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science
(IR3S), Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo,
7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
e-mail: matsuda@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
K. Takeuchi
Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S),
Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Kanagawa, Japan
© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and the Author(s) 2018
K. Takeuchi et al. (eds.), Biofuels and Sustainability, Science for Sustainable
Societies, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54895-9_1
Chapter 1
Introduction
Hirotaka Matsuda and Kazuhiko Takeuchi
1.1 Background and Character of Biofuel Production
Expansion
Currently, the development of biofuel expansion is found worldwide. Any energy
released from biomass through a chemical reaction is called bioenergy (Yamajji
et al. 2000). “Biomass” does not only mean biotic mass or biotic standing stock in
ecological science but also means biotic mass as an energy source because it has
been considered an alternative energy of fossil fuel since the “oil shocks” in the
early 1970s. There is no strict definition, but the generic term covers an accumulation of animal and plant resources, as well as waste materials from them, except
fossil resources, from the view of energy resources (The Japan Institute of Energy
2009). Biofuels can produce bioenergy, but it is often thought to be a fuel for transportation and is in competition with food crops. The current biofuels for transportation are mainly bioethanol and bio-diesel. These are called first-generation biofuels.
Most first-generation biofuels are produced through glycosylating, fermenting and
distilling starch ingredients of maize, wheat and potato or through fermenting and
distilling carbohydrate ingredients of sugarcane and beet. They are also produced
H. Matsuda (*)
Graduate Program in Sustainability Science – Global Leadership Initiative (GPSS-GLI),
Graduate School of Frontier Sciences/Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science
(IR3S), Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo,
7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
e-mail: matsuda@k.u-tokyo.ac.jp
K. Takeuchi
Integrated Research System for Sustainability Science (IR3S),
Institutes for Advanced Study (UTIAS), The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Kanagawa, Japan