Page 59 - Biorefinery 2030 Future Prospects for the Bioeconomy (2015)

1 The Concept of Biorefinery 27

Box 2.1 (continued)
– The term “green biorefinery” was defined for the first time in 1997 in
3
Germany. According to this definition, “‘green’ biorefineries are complex
systems based on ecological technology for comprehensive (holistic),
material and energy utilization of renewable resources and natural
materials using green and waste biomass and focalising on sustainable
regional land utilization.” The expression “complex systems” has since
been replaced by “totally integrated systems.”
– According to Kamm et al. (2006) and Kamm et al. (2007), The American
Department of Energy (DOE) uses the following definition:
A biorefinery is an overall concept of a processing plant where biomass feedstocks
are converted and extracted into a spectrum of valuable products. Its operation is
similar to that of petrochemical refineries.
– The American National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) uses the
4,5
following definition :
A biorefinery is a facility that integrates biomass conversion processes and equip-
ment to produce fuels, power, and chemicals from biomass. The biorefinery concept
is analogous to today’s petroleum refineries, which produce multiple fuels and
products from petroleum. Industrial biorefineries have been identified as the most
promising route to the creation of a new domestic biobased industry.

– The International Energy Agency (IEA) describes the biorefinery as “the
sustainable processing of biomass into a spectrum of marketable products
(food, feed, materials, chemicals) and energy (fuels, power, heat)”. This
means that biorefinery can be a concept, a facility, a process, a plant, or
even a cluster of facilities. 6

In simple terms, a biorefinery is an industrial site that transforms biomass in a
sustainable way into human and animal food products, biomaterials, biofuel, and
chemical products with high value added, such as cosmetics. The aim is to put every
part of an agro-resource to either food or non-food use. Thus, with the same inputs,
the members of the biorefinery will obtain a much wider range of outputs
(Cf. Figs. 2.1 and 2.2).
Another example is wheat, which can be processed to produce starch, glucose,
gluten and fibre. These ingredients can then be used for human and/or animal
foodstuffs. After that glucose can be used to produce glucose syrup and then,
after fermentation, bioethanol to be used in the production of biofuels.

3
Kamm et al. (1998).
4
Kamm et al. (2006).
5
Kamm et al. (2007).
6
IEA Bioenergy Task 42 Biorefinery, 2009. Brochure: www.biorefinery.nl/biopol