Sustainable Biorefinery, Biofuels and Bioenergy: Current State, Potential and Perspectives

Dear Colleagues,

The development of sustainable biofuels and bioenergy production is now a global priority. Every amount of biofuel produced (such as hydrogen, methane, or ethanol) contributes to reducing the use of fossil fuels, which results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

There is a growing consensus that second- and third-generation biofuels and bioenergy should take the place of first-generation biofuels. This is due to the more efficient use of space and agricultural raw materials that can be used for human needs, both directly and indirectly. Furthermore, second- and third-generation biofuels are part of the circular economy, which uses waste from other branches of the agri-food industry. Additionally, the introduction of modern biomass pre-treatment methods enables the production of both biofuels and bioenergy.

At the same time, some scientists suggest that we should now focus on the development of fourth-generation biofuels. Thanks to genetic engineering and biotechnology techniques, it is possible to produce more ecological energy in an environmentally friendly manner with less burden on the ecosystem.

Various forms of facilities, known as biorefineries, have accompanied man since the dawn of time—from local small distilleries to large industrial plants where biomass is processed inter alia into bioethanol, animal feed, or semi-finished products for chemical synthesis. In general, biorefineries are industrial facilities that use biomass as a substrate to create necessary goods or energy. This action is part of both the circular economy and an economy with zero emissions. The purpose of this is to mitigate the adverse effects of human activities on the environment, ensuring that future generations can also reap its benefits, in accordance with the concept of sustainable development. Given the current issues posed by global warming and the restricted availability of raw materials, the advancement of biorefining is becoming an increasingly attractive alternative.

The potential of developing and modifying both current and new biorefineries to align with the requirements of sustainable development is vast. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. Efficient use of biomass for biorefinery processes and reduction in the waste stream generated by biorefineries.
2. Use of various plant and animal substrates, e.g., directly or as waste from agri-food production.
3. Modifications and adjustments of energy sources powering the biorefinery, e.g., in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
4. New valuable products that can be produced using modified methods of conversion and the pre-treatment of biomass.
5. The potential to establish small-scale regional biorefineries that use a range of regional biomass sources to produce goods or energy for the rural bioeconomy.
6. Develop new ways to facilitate the establishment of small and large biorefineries, producing both existing and novel substrates and energy carriers.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jarosław Domański
Guest Editor

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• biorefinery
• biofuels
• bioenergy
• bioconversion
• circular economy
• sustainable products
• zero-waste