Nov 15 2007
DuPont Applied BioSciences™ hosted a panel of leading experts on Monday who said that biofuels represent a sustainable solution to address growing concerns about energy security and climate change.
Tom Connelly (left) moderates the panel discussion on biofuels.
The panel included: Phillip New, president, BP Biofuels; Alexander “Andy” Karsner, assistant secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy; Lee Lynd, engineering and biology professor, Darmouth College; and Bernie Bulkin, partner, Vantage Point Venture. The panel was moderated by DuPont Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Tom Connelly.
“It is possible -- if the world is really serious about climate change, if people continue to be concerned about energy security, and given the breakthroughs in technology that now seem plausible -- biofuels could represent a significant amount of the transport fuel mix in the future,” BP’s New said.
The panelists outlined the global market drivers that are creating growing demand for biofuels; the role governments can play in accelerating biofuels development; and the challenges and opportunities to make biofuels a commercial reality beyond today’s grain and sugar cane ethanol.
“Climate change is a global problem that requires global attention,” Vantage Point’s Bulkin said. “There is no one miracle technology that will save the day. What we’ll need instead is a number of approaches from a number of vantage points. We’ll need to focus on biomass opportunities and how we can produce biofuels from different agricultural feedstocks, but we’re also going to need to look at more sustainable fuel molecules and fuel technologies.”
“Biofuels is an important business priority for DuPont,” Tom Connelly said. “We value the collective views of such well-respected experts who participated in the panel discussion. The panelists have helped shape the biofuels industry in different ways and we will continue to seek their counsel as DuPont brings its portfolio of advanced biofuels to market.”