Ethanol Research - Net Energy Yield (Gain)
Dale and Kim's study
Wang's study
Michael WAng - Argonne National Laboratory
Agonne National Laboratory - Transportation Technology R&D Center
Bruce Dale
no-tilled corn grain - environmental aspects (go to page 3 near bottom click on "download")
Ethanol from no-tilled corn grain - environmental aspects - Dale and Kim
In the GHG emissions analysis, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from soil and soil organic carbon levels under corn
cultivation in each county are estimated by the DAYCENT model. Carbon sequestration rates range from 377 to
681 kg Cha1 year1 and N2O emissions from soil are 0.5�2.8 kgNha1 year1 under no-till conditions. The GHG
emissions assigned to 1 kg of ethanol are 260�922 g CO2 eq. under no-tillage. Using ethanol (E85) fuel in a midsize
passenger vehicle can reduce GHG emissions by 41�61%km1 driven, compared to gasoline-fueled vehicles. Using
ethanol as a vehicle fuel, therefore, has the potential to reduce nonrenewable energy consumption and GHG emissions.
r 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ethanol Energy Balance research
Ethanol can replace gasoline with big energy savings -
FArrell and Kammen
Farrell and Kammen, et al - Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy
and Environmental Goals - the Journal Science, Jan 2006
"Two of the studies stand out from the others
because they report negative net energy values
and imply relatively high GHG emissions and
petroleum inputs (11, 12). The close evaluation
required to replicate the net energy results showed
that these two studies also stand apart from the
others by incorrectly assuming that ethanol
coproducts (materials inevitably generated when
ethanol is made, such as dried distiller grains with
solubles, corn gluten feed, and corn oil) should
not be credited with any of the input energy and
by including some input data that are old and
unrepresentative of current processes, or so
poorly documented that their quality cannot be
evaluated (tables S2 and S3).
Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environmental Goals
Alexander E. Farrell,1* Richard J. Plevin,1 Brian T. Turner,1,2 Andrew D. Jones,1 Michael O�Hare,2 Daniel M. Kammen1,2,3 _ the Journal Science, Jan 2006 -- Supporting Online Material for (i.e. the 28 page report of analysis and conclusions:)
FArrell & Kammen meta analysis model spreadsheet (click on "download model")
NEGATIVE CARBON EMMISSIONS ETHANOL PLANT
Monster CAne
"Asahi says the new cane variety can produce three times as much ethanol as other strains, and slightly more sugar. It also yields more bagasse, or crushed sugarcane refuse, which is burned to generate the energy to run a sugar-ethanol plant."
"Asahi estimates the yield of the new sugarcane at 37.4 tonnes per hectare excluding moisture, which can be processed into 7.1 tons of sugar, 4.3 kiloliters of ethanol and 24 tons of bagasse."
"This compares with the yield of a conventional cane type at 17.4 tons per hectare, sugar output at 6.9 tons, ethanol production at 1.4 kiloliters and bagasse volume at 7.8 tonnes, which is too small to produce sufficient energy for a processing plant."
japan-to-grow-drought-n-storm-resistant-monster-cane-to-produce-ethanol
"It is for some other characteristics of the plant � its productive capability even in poor soil, its capability to hold up in droughts and typhoons, and to add to, the three meters tall plants yield twice as many stems as most sugarcane, hence economic too!"
ethanol and food prices
food cost farm andmarketing componenets
ethanol and food prices
USDA data indicates farm cost component of food prices at 20%
While marketiing costs (getting food from the farm to the store) represents 80% of the food cost.
OF this cost intercity rail and truck transportation represented 9.3% in 2004.
According to Farrell and Kammen data (largely drawn from Shappouri's data (USDA)) gasoline and diesel costs represent roughly 21% of the farm cost component.
so of the final food bill for domestically sold food, transportation and fuels and electricity costs represented about 12% of the final cost.
marketing costs
ethanol and food prices