Life cycle assessment of integrated biorefinery-cropping systems: all biomass is local.

Abstract

This chapter compares the environmental performance of different cropping systems providing raw materials to an integrated biorefinery. The base case is continuous maize cultivation under no-tillage conditions. The effects of maize stover removal and planting winter cover crops are also included in the analysis. Two biobased products, ethanol and polyhydroxyalkanoates are considered.

Biofuels: Thinking Clearly about the Issues

“…Focusing now on cellulosic ethanol or other cellulosic biofuels, I believe food production (actually animal feed production) and biofuels will be beneficially linked through the cellulosic biorefinery (13). All cellulosic materials have calories "locked up" in their plant cell walls.…”