Accenture, 2007
Biofuels market: A supply perspective
Biofuels have been around for a long time, but only recently have they started attracting serious attention as a viable energy source. The growing concern about climate change, the desire for green agendas, concerns about energy security and an emphasis on local agriculture are some of the well-known drivers for the development of biofuels. Governments, including those of the United States and European Union, have started setting aggressive policies and targets, prompting even the most skeptical of energy companies to develop their own biofuels agendas and strategies. Private investors such as Bill Gates and Vinod Khosla and numerous private equity firms and institutional funds are fueling the biofuels boom by making substantial capital investments in new biofuels ventures. As a result, a global industry is emerging around the production, processing and distribution of biofuels. As momentum for biofuels grows, Accenture believes that only those companies that can navigate the patchwork of different incentives and tune into the dynamics of the ever-changing market will be successful. Operating in the biofuels sector is placing a bet on the unknown. High performers will improve the odds by understanding the risks and focusing on how to access the rewards.
