Cellulosic ethanol, with the advantages of renewable resource, cleanliness and safety, is the mainstream of new energy development and has obtained extensive attention worldwide. In this review, the biological characteristics of beets were introduced, and then the superiority and application progress of beets and its by-product sugar beet pulp in the bioethanol production were stated. At last, cellulosic ethanol production coupled with the component separation and comprehensive utilization of beet pulp was proposed.