The cumulative exergy demand per kg wet biomass is 80.9 MJ, which is 11 times more than the original exergy contained in the wet biomass feed. In our study, 67% of the cumulative energy demand is due to methane, 11% each caused by ethanol and by cooling water and biomass input makes up 9% of the cumulative energy demand. The high liquid loads, which increase steam requirements, were identified to be the main cause for the high cumulative energy demand of methane and cooling water. In particular, nearly 84% of methane demand is split evenly between steam utilities required for the reboiler and E-1, the evaporator following it and 80 % of cooling water utilities is required to condense large vapor loads entering the condenser of the column. While the cumulative exergy demand of ethanol currently accounts for 11%, it would account for 48% without solvent recovery. Future strategies should primarily focus on the reduction of fuel demand, e.g. by reducing liquid loads, and continue to decrease solvent demand.