What are second-generation biofuels

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Second-generation biofuels refer to a model that moves away from using food crops such as corn as raw materials for biofuel production; instead, agricultural and forestry waste materials such as wheat straw, grass, and wood are used as primary inputs, with biological cellulose being converted into biofuels, thereby enabling the development of cellulosic ethanol； Third-generation biofuels refer to the utilization of lignin degradation; the raw materials for second-generation and third-generation biofuels come mainly from waste materials such as plant straw, and they do not compete with food crops for land use ； Using degraded materials as energy also contributes to the development of a circular economy. However, second-generation biofuels have not been able to be used on a large scale due to their high technical costs. Since 2008, the prices of traditional petrochemical fuels have soared; the use of large amounts of grain to produce biofuels has led to food shortages worldwide. First-generation biofuels have come under heavy criticism, and the costs of their raw materials continue to rise. At the same time, the world’s demand for energy remains on the rise. Under such circumstances, the advantages of second-generation biofuels become apparent; their technical costs are roughly on par with those of traditional petrochemical fuels and first-generation biofuels, making large-scale utilization a reality.