Methanol from wood; a review related to the proposals submitted to the Commission of the European Communities -- I - Methanol from Wood -- Synthetic fuel from biomass: the AVSA dual fluid bed combustor - gasifier project -- Gazéification du bois en lit fluidisé à l'oxygène et sous pression en vue de produire un gaz utilisable pour la synthèse du méthanol -- Development of the oxygen donor gasifier for conversion of wood to synthesis gas for eventual production of methanol -- Synthetic fuel from wood using steam and air -- Experimental work on a fixed-bed oxygen gasifier in the view of methanol synthesis using biomass as a feedstock -- Design and construction of a pressurized wood gasifier with heat input by oxygen combustion or by electrical heating -- Proposed 20 tonnes per day biomass gasification pilot plant -- Synthesis gas obtained from biomass -- Gasification of wood in the circulating fluidized bed - methanol production route -- II - Algae -- Biotechnologie solaire - Production et utilisation des algues -- Hydrocarbon production via cultivation of the alga botryococcus braunii -- Culture de l'algue botryococcus braunii à l'échelle pilote -- Fuel gas production by mariculture on land.