Cassava (tapioca) chips have become a major source of ethanol production
In many countries, significant research has begun to evaluate the use of cassava as an ethanol biofuel feedstock. Under the Development Plan for Renewable Energy in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan in the People’s Republic of China, the target was to increase the production of ethanol fuel from nongrain feedstock to 2 million metric tons (2,000,000 long tons; 2,200,000 short tons), and that of biodiesel to 200 thousand metric tons (200,000 long tons; 220,000 short tons) by 2010. This is equivalent to the replacement of 10 million metric tons (9,800,000 long tons; 11,000,000 short tons) of petroleum.
- “Stuart’s Brasil”. 30 January 2009. Archived from the original (Blog) on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
This push for non-grain ethanol was further increased to a goal of 300 million metric tons (300,000,000 long tons; 330,000,000 short tons) of cellulosic and non-grain based ethanol combined by 2020.
- Anderson-Sprecher, Andrew; Ji, James. “China Biofuel Industry Faces Uncertain Future” (PDF). USDA Foreign Agriculture Service. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
As a result, cassava (tapioca) chips have gradually become a major source of ethanol production. On 22 December 2007, the largest cassava ethanol fuel production facility was completed in Beihai, with annual output of 200 thousand metric tons (200,000 long tons; 220,000 short tons), which would need an average of 1.5 million metric tons (1,500,000 long tons; 1,700,000 short tons) of cassava. In November 2008, China-based Hainan Yedao Group invested US$51.5 million in a new biofuel facility that is expected to produce 120 million litres (33 million US gallons) a year of bioethanol from cassava plants.
- “Cassava bio-ethanol plant to open in China”. businessGreen. 5 November 2008. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
The Chinese name for cassava is Mushu (木薯), literally meaning wood potato. In the subtropical region of southern China, cassava is the fifth largest crop in term of production, after rice, sweet potato, sugar cane, and maize.
- “Stuart’s Brasil”. 30 January 2009. Archived from the original (Blog) on 7 April 2015. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
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