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Difference between revisions of "Biofuel"

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(new section Carbon Footprint of Ethanol)
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== Carbon Footprint of Ethanol ==
 
== Carbon Footprint of Ethanol ==
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US DOE reports that use of corn stover (crop wastes such as stems, leaves and cobs) as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol biofuel provides an incredible 130% reduction in carbon footprint compared to that of gasoline or diesel fuels.
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http://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/04/f14/sustainability_four_pager.pdf
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This was based on an extensive study published in 2010 on the environmental and economic impacts of replacing gasoline and diesel with renewable fuels, including indirect land use changes (ILUC) in the areas where biofuels are grown.
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http://www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels/420r10006.pdf
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Production of ethanol from corn grain provided only a modest 19% reduction in carbon footprint compared to that of gasoline based on the data from 2010, but data from 2013 showed recent improvements in efficiency of ethanol production and a 62% reduction in carbon footprint for corn grain ethanol biofuel vs. gasoline or diesel fuel.
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http://www.cleanfuelsdc.org/pubs/documents/CFDC-Alverson-WP.pdf
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Thus, the first generation ethanol biofuel made from corn grain provides a significant improvement in carbon footprint and second generation biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol are even better.
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Increased use of ethanol biofuels in our internal combustion engine vehicles will help reduce CO2 greenhouse gas pollution and help improve the sustainability of our transportation systems. Most gasoline sold in the US is now a blend containing 10% ethanol (E10 fuel), so all of our light-duty vehicles are already running on E10 fuel.
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US EPA has approved use of gasoline with 15% ethanol (E15 fuel) in all light-duty motor vehicles sold in the US since 2001, but this fuel is not yet widely available at fuel stations.
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A smaller, but growing number of "flexfuel" vehicles are designed to use fuel blends with up to 85% ethanol (E85 fuel). Availablity of E85 biofuel is limited but growing, with websites and cellphone apps available to help drivers find nearby fuel stations that offer E85 biofuel.
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Brazil has flexfuel vehicles designed to use any mixture of fuel from pure gasoline to pure ethanol (E100 fuel).
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[[Image:Carbon-footprint-of-ethanol-1000.gif|alt text]]
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== Videos ==
 
== Videos ==
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* [http://www.shell.com/global/environment-society/environment/climate-change/biofuels-alternative-energies-transport.html Biofuels and alternative transport fuels - Shell Global]
 
* [http://www.shell.com/global/environment-society/environment/climate-change/biofuels-alternative-energies-transport.html Biofuels and alternative transport fuels - Shell Global]
 
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===References===
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<references/>

Revision as of 17:38, 29 January 2015

  Mission * Why Vehicles Need to use Electricity > Peak oil > Climate change > Renewable energy > Smart grid > Vehicle-to-grid > Vehicle-to-home

Advances in biofuel production provide increasing opportunities for this renewable fuel to replace liquid fossil fuels in our vehicles.

Carbon Footprint of Ethanol

US DOE reports that use of corn stover (crop wastes such as stems, leaves and cobs) as a feedstock for cellulosic ethanol biofuel provides an incredible 130% reduction in carbon footprint compared to that of gasoline or diesel fuels. http://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/04/f14/sustainability_four_pager.pdf This was based on an extensive study published in 2010 on the environmental and economic impacts of replacing gasoline and diesel with renewable fuels, including indirect land use changes (ILUC) in the areas where biofuels are grown. http://www.epa.gov/otaq/renewablefuels/420r10006.pdf

Production of ethanol from corn grain provided only a modest 19% reduction in carbon footprint compared to that of gasoline based on the data from 2010, but data from 2013 showed recent improvements in efficiency of ethanol production and a 62% reduction in carbon footprint for corn grain ethanol biofuel vs. gasoline or diesel fuel. http://www.cleanfuelsdc.org/pubs/documents/CFDC-Alverson-WP.pdf Thus, the first generation ethanol biofuel made from corn grain provides a significant improvement in carbon footprint and second generation biofuels such as cellulosic ethanol are even better.

Increased use of ethanol biofuels in our internal combustion engine vehicles will help reduce CO2 greenhouse gas pollution and help improve the sustainability of our transportation systems. Most gasoline sold in the US is now a blend containing 10% ethanol (E10 fuel), so all of our light-duty vehicles are already running on E10 fuel.

US EPA has approved use of gasoline with 15% ethanol (E15 fuel) in all light-duty motor vehicles sold in the US since 2001, but this fuel is not yet widely available at fuel stations.

A smaller, but growing number of "flexfuel" vehicles are designed to use fuel blends with up to 85% ethanol (E85 fuel). Availablity of E85 biofuel is limited but growing, with websites and cellphone apps available to help drivers find nearby fuel stations that offer E85 biofuel.

Brazil has flexfuel vehicles designed to use any mixture of fuel from pure gasoline to pure ethanol (E100 fuel).

alt text



Videos


Biofuels as Renewable Energy: Ethanol From Crop Residue - YouTube - mnagricualture 21march2014 "Tom Rothman, former Minnesota farm broadcaster and current Minnesota Agriculture in the Classroom Foundation Board Chair, narrates a great story about how POET, a large renewable energy company, is using corn stover (plant parts) to create ethanol at a huge processing plant at Emmetsburg, Iowa."


Biofuel from cornfield residue - YouTube - ThisAmericanLand 03feb2014 "Farmers in Iowa are harvesting corn stover - stalks, leaves, husks and cobs - as biomass for production of cellulosic ethanol."


Bio-Fuel: Science Competes to Create 'Non-Food Ethanol' - YouTube - Bloomberg News 01may2013 "Harry Boyle, lead analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance, discusses the future of renewable energy as scientists look to cheaply create a new, non-food ethanol bio-fuel."


Cellulosic Ethanol Biofuel - YouTube - GreenIsSexyTV's channel 14jan2013 Interview of Dr. Wes Marner, Univ Wisconsin-Madison discussing what makes biofuels a good alternative to gasoline.


News Sources


News


Links


References

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