Challenges and future prospective of biomass conversion to various products

Biomass energy has a great role to the global energy system. Biomass energy has the potential to significantly contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions, particularly from challenging industries such as aviation, heavy transport, and agriculture. However, the development, harvesting, and distribution of bioenergy encounters three major challenges: (i) Technological advancement, (ii) environment, and (iii) economic viability. This chapter discusses these three challenges and proposes the possible strategies to counter them effectively. Technically biomass has reached its fourth generation which overcomes most of the abundance related, environment related, and economics-related challenges and soon it is going to be launched on a commercial scale. A complete life-cycle assessment with regard to available conversion strategies will help full-scale production of biofuels from this generation of biomass. A combination of regulations and incentives to manage a successful trajectory for bioenergy that promotes appropriate use in the short term and minimizes lock-in in the long term is the need of the hour.