Retrospective analysis of the <scp>U.S.</scp> corn ethanol industry for <scp>2005</scp>–<scp>2019</scp>: implications for greenhouse gas emission reductions

Lee, Uisung; Kwon, Hoyoung; Wu, May; Wang, Michael

doi:10.1002/bbb.2225

Cited by 48 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Thermal energy requirements in ethanol facilities have trended downward as reflected in a recent GREET retrospective published by Lee et al The low-end thermal energy requirement tested here reflects the 2017 update to GREET model at 26,487 Btu/gal, approximately 9% lower than BASE. The high-end case tests a thermal requirement of 32,043 Btu/gal which is the assumption in the 2016 iteration of the NREL ethanol cost model that served as the basis of the TEA .…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 78%

Cost and Life Cycle Emissions of Ethanol Produced with an Oxyfuel Boiler and Carbon Capture and Storage

Dees

Oke

Goldstein

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Decarbonization of transportation fuels represents one of the most vexing challenges for climate change mitigation. Biofuels derived from corn starch have offered modest life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions over fossil fuels. Here we show that capture and storage of CO2 emissions from corn ethanol fermentation achieves ∼58% reduction in the GHG intensity (CI) of ethanol at a levelized cost of 52 $/tCO2e abated. The integration of an oxyfuel boiler enables further CO2 capture at modest cost. This system yields a 75% reduction in CI to 15 gCO2e/MJ at a minimum ethanol selling price (MESP) of $2.24/gallon ($0.59/L), a $0.31/gallon ($0.08/L) increase relative to the baseline no intervention case. The levelized cost of carbon abatement is 84 $/tCO2e. Sensitivity analysis reveals that carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative ethanol can be achieved when oxyfuel carbon capture is stacked with low-CI alternatives to grid power and fossil natural gas. Conservatively, fermentation and oxyfuel CCS can reduce the CI of conventional ethanol by a net 44–50 gCO2/MJ. Full implementation of interventions explored in the sensitivity analysis would reduce CI by net 79–85 gCO2/MJ. Integrated oxyfuel and fermentation CCS is shown to be cost-effective under existing U.S. policy, offering near-term abatement opportunities.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 78%

Cost and Life Cycle Emissions of Ethanol Produced with an Oxyfuel Boiler and Carbon Capture and Storage

Dees

Oke

Goldstein

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Currently, standards are being developed by the GHG Protocol that give guidance on this methodological issue. The exclusion of LUC considerations may lead to contradicting insights (e.g., Lee et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indirect Effects Negate Global Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Substituting Gasoline With Corn Ethanol as a Transportation Fuel in the USA

Brandão

2022

Front. Clim.

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Concerns over climate change have led to the promotion of biofuels for transport, particularly biodiesel from oilseed crops and ethanol from sugar and starch crops. However, additional concerns arose on whether the climate change mitigation potential of biofuels is negated by the associated direct land requirements (dLUC) for growing biofuel feedstocks, or by the indirect land requirements (iLUC) that compensate for the diversion of food/feed crops into biofuels, both cases leading to greenhouse gas emissions. We investigated data over the last 20-year period to estimate the magnitude of the effects ethanol production in the USA has had on land use domestically and abroad. The data analyzed suggests that, over the period, the use of corn for ethanol increased by 118 Mt per year, most of it coming from displacement of other uses of corn, mainly feed, which were compensated by increased feed production elsewhere. Results suggest a relatively low dLUC but a significant iLUC effect, mainly due to the compensation for the foregone feed production as a result of diverting corn into ethanol production. The resulting 18.0 Mt CO2-eq. associated with meeting the renewable-energy target of 15 billion gallons of corn ethanol more than negates the climate benefits from avoided use of gasoline, indicating that promoting corn ethanol for global climate change mitigation may be counter-productive as, despite decreasing domestic emissions, global emissions increase. We suggest that the policy be revised accordingly.

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“…Higher energy input is then needed to produce corn and convert it into bioethanol. However, Lee et al (2021) have recently reported that corn-based bioethanol biorefineries have introduced newer techniques to increase bioethanol yield, reduce energy use, and add extra by-products. They suggest that stemming from innovation in bioethanol technology may certainly help reduce the GHG emissions of corn bioethanol.…”

Section: The Production and Utilization Of Bioethanol As A Biofuelmentioning

confidence: 99%

The impact of market factors on the development of eco-friendly energy technologies: the case of bioethanol

Merritt

Barragán-Ocaña

2021

Clean Techn Environ Policy

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Retrospective analysis of the U.S. corn ethanol industry for 2005–2019: implications for greenhouse gas emission reductions

Cited by 48 publications

References 20 publications

Cost and Life Cycle Emissions of Ethanol Produced with an Oxyfuel Boiler and Carbon Capture and Storage

Cost and Life Cycle Emissions of Ethanol Produced with an Oxyfuel Boiler and Carbon Capture and Storage

Indirect Effects Negate Global Climate Change Mitigation Potential of Substituting Gasoline With Corn Ethanol as a Transportation Fuel in the USA

The impact of market factors on the development of eco-friendly energy technologies: the case of bioethanol

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