Biofuels
California scientists have worked on commercial production of biofuels since the energy crises of the 1970s. Below, find a curated list of research and news extending back to 1978.
Biomass crops are more than feedstocks for energy. Some grow on marginal lands, and can clean up soil or water. Algae can remove selenium from drainage water (see Quinn 2000, below), and could also be used as biofuel. Algal lipids can be converted to biodiesel, carbohydrates to ethanol, and waste products gasified to help fuel the entire process. For additional research on multiple uses of biofuel crops, see our current issue (Oct-Dec 2009).
Finally, look below for extensive work on short-rotation woody cultures, such as eucalyptus, going back to the 1980s.
- Growing energy: The challenge and promise of biofuels
- Eucalyptus and woody biomass plantations (informal collection, November-December 1988)
- Fuel alcohol from biomass (informal collection, June 1980)
- Biofuels caught in changing regulations: The role of land-use changes and carbon emissions is being debated by scientists and policymakers
- Dozens of UC research projects pursue fossil-fuel alternatives: Energy Biosciences Institute seeks renewable, sustainable, environmentally friendly biofuels
- Fuel alcohol from biomass
- Issues and options
- Agroforestry is promising for previously cleared hardwood rangelands
- Algal-bacterial treatment facility removes selenium from drainage water
- Sweet sorghum cuItivars for alcohol production
- Harvesting eucalyptus for fuel chips
- Wood volume equations for central coast blue gum
- Short-rotation intensively cultured woody biomass plantations
- Seven-year performance of eucalyptus species in Napa County
- Low-elevation foothill fuelwood plantation
- Maximum biomass yields on prime agricultural land
- Economic feasibility of eucalyptus production
- Selection and clonal propagation of eucalyptus
- Thermochemical properties of biomass fuels
- Alternative greenhouse heating systems
- On-farm alcohol fuel production
- Short-rotation eucalyptus as a biomass fuel
- Fuel alcohol from biomass
- Harvesting crop residues for alcohol production
- Alcohol production from wood
- Attitudes of farmers toward using crop residues as fuel
COLLECTIONS/FULL ISSUES
Growing energy: The challenge and promise of biofuels
October-December 2009
Eucalyptus and woody biomass plantations (informal collection)
November-December 1988
Fuel alcohol from biomass (informal collection)
June 1980
NEWS DEPARTMENT STORIES
Biofuels caught in changing regulations: The role of land-use changes and carbon emissions is being debated by scientists and policymakers
by Robin Meadows, October-December 2009
Dozens of UC research projects pursue fossil-fuel alternatives: Energy Biosciences Institute seeks renewable, sustainable, environmentally friendly biofuels
by Ron Kolb, October-December 2009
Issues and options
by Charles E. Hess, October 1984
Fuel alcohol from biomass
by Robert Curley, June 1980
INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH ARTICLES
Agroforestry is promising for previously cleared hardwood rangelands
by Doug McCreary, November-December 2001
Algal-bacterial treatment facility removes selenium from drainage waterr
by Nigel W.T. Quinn et al., November-December 2000
Sweet sorghum cuItivars for alcohol production
by F.J. Hills, R.T. Lewellen, I.O. Skoyen, January-February 1990
Harvesting eucalyptus for fuel chips
by Bruce R. Hartsough and Gary M. Nakamura, January-February 1990
Wood volume equations for central coast blue gum
Norman H. PIllsbury et al., November-December 1989
Short-rotation intensively cultured woody biomass plantations
Richard B. Standiford et al., November-December 1988
Seven-year performance of eucalyptus species in Napa County
Dean Donaldson et al., November-December 1988
Low-elevation foothill fuelwood plantation
by Janine Hasey et al., November-December 1988
Maximum biomass yields on prime agricultural land
Roy Sachs et al., November-December 1988
Economic feasibility of eucalyptus production
Karen M. Klonsky, November-December 1988
Selection and clonal propagation of eucalyptus
Roy M. Sachs et al., November-December 1988
Thermochemical properties of biomass fuels
Bryan M. Jenkins and James M. Ebeling, May-June 1985
Alternative greenhouse heating systems
Bryan M. Jenkins, May-June 1985
On-farm alcohol fuel production
Mark Meo and Scott Sachs, July 1982
Short-rotation eucalyptus as a biomass fuel
Roy M. Sachs, David W. Gilpin and Tom Mock, August-September 1980
Fuel alcohol from biomass
Robert G. Curley, June 1980
Harvesting crop residues for alcohol production
George E. MIller, June 1980
Alcohol production from wood
David L. Brink, June 1980
Attitudes of farmers toward using crop residues as fuel
Clarence F. Becker et al., December 1978