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Title: Policy implications of allocation methods in the life cycle analysis of integrated corn and corn stover ethanol production

Journal Article · · BioEnergy Research
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [1]
  1. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
  2. EcoEngineers, Des Moines, IA (United States)
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Here, a biorefinery may produce multiple fuels from more than one feedstock. The ability of these fuels to qualify as one of the four types of biofuels under the US Renewable Fuel Standard and to achieve a low carbon intensity score under California’s Low Carbon Fuel Standard can be strongly influenced by the approach taken to their life cycle analysis (LCA). For example, in facilities that may co-produce corn grain and corn stover ethanol, the ethanol production processes can share the combined heat and power (CHP) that is produced from the lignin and liquid residues from stover ethanol production. We examine different LCA approaches to corn grain and stover ethanol production considering different approaches to CHP treatment. In the baseline scenario, CHP meets the energy demands of stover ethanol production first, with additional heat and electricity generated sent to grain ethanol production. The resulting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for grain and stover ethanol are 57 and 25 g-CO2eq/MJ, respectively, corresponding to a 40 and 74% reduction compared to the GHG emissions of gasoline. We illustrate that emissions depend on allocation of burdens of CHP production and corn farming, along with the facility capacities. Co-product handling techniques can strongly influence LCA results and should therefore be transparently documented.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-06CH11357
OSTI ID:
1245214
Journal Information:
BioEnergy Research, Vol. 9, Issue 1; ISSN 1939-1234
Publisher:
SpringerCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 40 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (12)

Life cycle inventory development for corn and stover production systems under different allocation methods journal November 2013
Reducing life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn ethanol by integrating biomass to produce heat and power at ethanol plants journal March 2011
Techno-economic analysis of using corn stover to supply heat and power to a corn ethanol plant – Part 1: Cost of feedstock supply logistics journal January 2010
Techno-economic analysis of using corn stover to supply heat and power to a corn ethanol plant – Part 2: Cost of heat and power generation systems journal March 2010
Techno-economic analysis of co-located corn grain and corn stover ethanol plants journal February 2014
A life cycle assessment of advanced biofuel production from a hectare of corn journal November 2011
Well-to-wheels energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of ethanol from corn, sugarcane and cellulosic biomass for US use journal December 2012
Land-use change and greenhouse gas emissions from corn and cellulosic ethanol journal January 2013
Process Design and Economics for Biochemical Conversion of Lignocellulosic Biomass to Ethanol: Dilute-Acid Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Corn Stover report March 2011
Methods of dealing with co-products of biofuels in life-cycle analysis and consequent results within the U.S. context journal October 2011
Characterizing Model Uncertainties in the Life Cycle of Lignocellulose-Based Ethanol Fuels journal November 2010
2008 Energy Balance for the Corn-Ethanol Industry text January 2010

Cited By (6)

Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions of corn kernel fiber ethanol: Corn fiber ethanol emissions journal August 2018
Life Cycle Performance of Cellulosic Ethanol and Corn Ethanol from a Retrofitted Dry Mill Corn Ethanol Plant journal August 2016
Multi-criteria decision-making and life cycle assessment model for optimal product selection: case study of knee support journal October 2016
Well-to-wake analysis of ethanol-to-jet and sugar-to-jet pathways journal January 2017
Multifunctionality of product systems – a general insight from the circular economy’s perspective journal January 2019
Optimizing resource use efficiencies in the food–energy–water nexus for sustainable agriculture: from conceptual model to decision support system journal August 2018

Figures / Tables (9)

Fig. 1(p. 4)figure Fig. 1
Table 1(p. 4)table Table 1
Table 2(p. 4)table Table 2
Table 3(p. 5)table Table 3
Fig. 2(p. 6)figure Fig. 2
Table 4(p. 6)table Table 4
Fig. 3(p. 8)figure Fig. 3
Fig. 4(p. 9)figure Fig. 4
Fig. 5(p. 9)figure Fig. 5

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Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
corn
corn stover
ethanol
GHG emissions
integrated facility
life-cycle analysis