Abstract: Biofuel ethanol，which is regarded as one of the key alternative fuels in the future，has been playing on the central stage of automotive alternative field since the 1970s. In this paper，current development of fuel ethanol worldwide，as well as R&D history and policies is presented. Fuel ethanol production routes，including chemical methods (syngas and acetic acid hydrogenation) and bio-fermentation methods (grain fermentation，non-grain feedstock fermentation and fermentation for syngas) are analyzed. Commercial challenges and key factors influencing fuel ethanol industry progress are discussed. Suggestions on promoting fuel ethanol R&D and gearing up industry growth are proposed. Non-grain fuel ethanol industry development should come from strengthening supply chain，technology evolution，accelerating demonstration and optimizing product utilization.

Key words: fuel ethanol, biomass, cellulose, syngas, biological fermentation

摘要： 自20世纪70年代以来，生物燃料乙醇作为车用燃料的研究和产业化受到广泛重视，被认为是未来最重要的可再生燃料之一。本文介绍了燃料乙醇的发展概况，综述了近年来国内外研究开发历程、产业政策和最新进展，对化学合成乙醇路线（合成气催化制乙醇、乙酸加氢制乙醇工艺）和生物发酵制乙醇路线（粮食发酵、非粮原料发酵、合成气发酵工艺）的技术特点、纤维素燃料乙醇产业化存在的困难和问题进行了分析，并对影响燃料乙醇产业发展的因素进行了分析，提出了我国燃料乙醇技术研发和产业发展的相关建议，认为我国应加强非粮原料供应体系建设，积极进行技术研发，加强工业示范并优化燃料乙醇使用环节，促进非粮燃料乙醇产业发展。

关键词: 燃料乙醇, 生物质, 纤维素, 合成气, 生物发酵