--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's obviously tricky to convert…" description: "\"It's obviously tricky to convert cellulose to a useful biofuel. I think actually the most efficient way to use cellulose is to burn it in a co-generati..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/elon-musk-1138_biofuels_it-s-obviously-tricky-to-convert-cellulo_326275.jpg" --- # It's obviously tricky to convert cellulose to a useful… ![“It's obviously tricky to convert cellulose to a useful biofuel. I think actually the most efficient way to use cellulose is to burn it in a co-generation power plant. That will yield the most energy and that is something you can do today.” quote by Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/elon-musk-1138_biofuels_it-s-obviously-tricky-to-convert-cellulo_326275.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/elon-musk-1138_biofuels_it-s-obviously-tricky-to-convert-cellulo_326275.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/05e/elon-musk-1138_biofuels_it-s-obviously-tricky-to-convert-cellulo_326275.jpg) > “It's obviously tricky to convert cellulose to a useful biofuel. I think actually the most efficient way to use cellulose is to burn it in a co-generation power plant. That will yield the most energy and that is something you can do today.” [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Cellulose is best used now by burning for electricity rather than converting to biofuel. **In simple terms:** Burn cellulose for power now. Key Takeaway Use existing co‑generation plants. Themes energy practicality innovation Mood pragmatic forward‑looking Type policy technical When to use this quote - industrial power - municipal waste - energy policy - immediate implementation Key Concepts biofuel combustion efficiency Questions to Reflect On - Can we improve conversion efficiency? - What are environmental trade‑offs? A Different Perspective Future biofuel tech may become cheaper. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biofuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biofuels/) [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Generations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generations/) [Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plant/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [The world is hung up on food-based biofuels. Not only are they the wrong thing, they're the uneconomic thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/the-world-is-hung-up-on-food-based-biofuels-not-only-are-they-the/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [Pond scum stinks. And so do the Obama administration's enormous, taxpayer-funded 'investments' in politically connected biofuel companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/pond-scum-stinks-and-so-do-the-obama-administration-s-enormous/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) > [As President, I'll invest in renewable energies like wind power, solar power, and the next generation of homegrown biofuels. That's how America is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-president-i-ll-invest-in-renewable-energies-like-wind-power-solar/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [We've got to control our own energy. Now, not only oil and natural gas, which we've been investing in; but also, we've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-got-to-control-our-own-energy-now-not-only-oil-and-natural-gas/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [The co-opting of the environmental movement by the petroleum industry had a shattering effect. It crushed nascent biofuel businesses, killed research, cut off critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tickell/the-co-opting-of-the-environmental-movement-by-the-petroleum-industry/) [Josh Tickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tickell/) > [We're gonna be using American produced, American energy that will create jobs in the United States, will create a far more secure source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mabus/we-re-gonna-be-using-american-produced-american-energy-that-will/) [Ray Mabus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mabus/) > [The first victims of poseur environmentalism will always be developing countries. In order for you to put biofuel in your Prius and feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/the-first-victims-of-poseur-environmentalism-will-always-be/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [As both a former governor and a Naval officer I can tell you energy security remains among biofuels' most important benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-blunt/as-both-a-former-governor-and-a-naval-officer-i-can-tell-you-energy/) [Matt Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-blunt/) > [Today much of anti-biofuel "science" - including the false claim that biofuels need more energy to make than they contain - has been shown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tickell/today-much-of-anti-biofuel-science-including-the-false-claim-that/) [Josh Tickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tickell/) > [Note even Jonathan Swift would dare to write a satire in which politicians argued that - in a world where species are vanishing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/note-even-jonathan-swift-would-dare-to-write-a-satire-in-which/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [We’re making new investments in the development of gasoline and diesel and jet fuel that’s actually made from a plant-like substance-algae... We could replace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-making-new-investments-in-the-development-of-gasoline-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I believe cellulosic fuels, biofuels made from nonfood crops are the only solution that will make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/i-believe-cellulosic-fuels-biofuels-made-from-nonfood-crops-are-the/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-strongly-agree-with-vice-president-gore-that-we-cannot-drill-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [If you're using first-class land for biofuels, then you're competing with the growing of food. And so you're actually spiking food prices by moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-using-first-class-land-for-biofuels-then-you-re-competing/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [ I'm working with wind, solar, and biofuels companies as well as with organizations like ACORE \[American Council On Renewable Energy\], Growth Energy, and AREDAY… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-k-wark/i-m-working-with-wind-solar-and-biofuels-companies-as-well-as-with/) [Wesley K. Wark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-k-wark/) ## More by Elon Musk > [Nobody wants to buy a $60,000 electric Civic. But people will pay $90,000 for an electric sports car.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/nobody-wants-to-buy-a-60-000-electric-civic-but-people-will-pay-90/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I think we should be very careful about artificial intelligence. If I had to guess at what our biggest existential threat is, it's probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-think-we-should-be-very-careful-about-artificial-intelligence-if-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Most people can learn a lot more than they think they can. They sell themselves short without trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/most-people-can-learn-a-lot-more-than-they-think-they-can-they-sell/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [Some companies out there quote a start of production that is substantially in advance of when customers get their cars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/some-companies-out-there-quote-a-start-of-production-that-is/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [A company is a group organized to create a product or service, and it is only as good as its people and how excited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/a-company-is-a-group-organized-to-create-a-product-or-service-and-it/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I'm glad to see that BMW is bringing an electric car to market. That's cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-m-glad-to-see-that-bmw-is-bringing-an-electric-car-to-market-that-s/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [When we got Tesla going at the very beginning, if you asked me what I thought the odds of success were, I would have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/when-we-got-tesla-going-at-the-very-beginning-if-you-asked-me-what-i/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [If we drive down the cost of transportation in space, we can do great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/if-we-drive-down-the-cost-of-transportation-in-space-we-can-do-great/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [In order for us to have a future that's exciting and inspiring, it has to be one where we're a space-bearing civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/in-order-for-us-to-have-a-future-that-s-exciting-and-inspiring-it-has/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [The lessons of history would suggest that civilisations move in cycles. You can track that back quite far - the Babylonians, the Sumerians, followed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-lessons-of-history-would-suggest-that-civilisations-move-in/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [The value of beauty and inspiration is very much underrated, no question. But I want to be clear: I'm not trying to be anyone's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/the-value-of-beauty-and-inspiration-is-very-much-underrated-no/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [If something's important enough, you should try. Even if - the probable outcome is failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/if-something-s-important-enough-you-should-try-even-if-the-probable/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [You should be innovating so fast that you're invalidating your prior patents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/you-should-be-innovating-so-fast-that-you-re-invalidating-your-prior/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I could either watch it happen or be a part of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-could-either-watch-it-happen-or-be-a-part-of-it/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) > [I'm anti-tax, but I'm pro-carbon tax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elon-musk/i-m-anti-tax-but-i-m-pro-carbon-tax/) [Elon Musk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) [Explore all 284 Elon Musk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elon-musk/) ## More Biofuels quotes > [The world is hung up on food-based biofuels. Not only are they the wrong thing, they're the uneconomic thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/the-world-is-hung-up-on-food-based-biofuels-not-only-are-they-the/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [If you're using first-class land for biofuels, then you're competing with the growing of food. And so you're actually spiking food prices by moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-you-re-using-first-class-land-for-biofuels-then-you-re-competing/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [I strongly agree with Vice President Gore that we cannot drill our way to energy independence, but must fast-track investments in renewable sources of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-strongly-agree-with-vice-president-gore-that-we-cannot-drill-our/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [I believe cellulosic fuels, biofuels made from nonfood crops are the only solution that will make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vinod-khosla/i-believe-cellulosic-fuels-biofuels-made-from-nonfood-crops-are-the/) [Vinod Khosla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vinod-khosla/) > [We’re making new investments in the development of gasoline and diesel and jet fuel that’s actually made from a plant-like substance-algae... We could replace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-re-making-new-investments-in-the-development-of-gasoline-and/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Note even Jonathan Swift would dare to write a satire in which politicians argued that - in a world where species are vanishing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-ridley/note-even-jonathan-swift-would-dare-to-write-a-satire-in-which/) [Matt Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-ridley/) > [Today much of anti-biofuel "science" - including the false claim that biofuels need more energy to make than they contain - has been shown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tickell/today-much-of-anti-biofuel-science-including-the-false-claim-that/) [Josh Tickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tickell/) > [As both a former governor and a Naval officer I can tell you energy security remains among biofuels' most important benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-blunt/as-both-a-former-governor-and-a-naval-officer-i-can-tell-you-energy/) [Matt Blunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-blunt/) > [The first victims of poseur environmentalism will always be developing countries. In order for you to put biofuel in your Prius and feel good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-steyn/the-first-victims-of-poseur-environmentalism-will-always-be/) [Mark Steyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-steyn/) > [We're gonna be using American produced, American energy that will create jobs in the United States, will create a far more secure source of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mabus/we-re-gonna-be-using-american-produced-american-energy-that-will/) [Ray Mabus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mabus/) > [The co-opting of the environmental movement by the petroleum industry had a shattering effect. It crushed nascent biofuel businesses, killed research, cut off critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-tickell/the-co-opting-of-the-environmental-movement-by-the-petroleum-industry/) [Josh Tickell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-tickell/) > [We've got to control our own energy. Now, not only oil and natural gas, which we've been investing in; but also, we've got to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-ve-got-to-control-our-own-energy-now-not-only-oil-and-natural-gas/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [As President, I'll invest in renewable energies like wind power, solar power, and the next generation of homegrown biofuels. That's how America is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/as-president-i-ll-invest-in-renewable-energies-like-wind-power-solar/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Pond scum stinks. And so do the Obama administration's enormous, taxpayer-funded 'investments' in politically connected biofuel companies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-malkin/pond-scum-stinks-and-so-do-the-obama-administration-s-enormous/) [Michelle Malkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-malkin/) > [ I'm working with wind, solar, and biofuels companies as well as with organizations like ACORE \[American Council On Renewable Energy\], Growth Energy, and AREDAY… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wesley-k-wark/i-m-working-with-wind-solar-and-biofuels-companies-as-well-as-with/) [Wesley K. Wark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wesley-k-wark/) [Browse all 29 Biofuels quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biofuels/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's obviously tricky to convert cellulose to a useful biofuel. I think actually the most efficient way to use cellulose is to burn it in a co-generation power plant. 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