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U.S. Department of Energy
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Report of the Energy Research Advisory Board on gasohol. Prepared by the Gasohol Study Group

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6324003

The Gasohol Study Group was asked to investigate the following questions: (1) what are the potential benefits of gasohol from both an energetic and economic perspective; (2) what is the potential impact of gasohol production on agriculture, land use, and the environment; (3) in addition to grain and other starches and sugars, are there other biomass sources available for gasohol production; (4) what are the comparative benefits of ethanol production from grain and methanol production from coal; and (5) are additional tax incentives needed for gasohol production. The principal conclusions of the Study Group are as follows: (1) ethanol production as a near-term (mid 1980's) partial solution to the liquid fuels problem (based on current incentives) will probably reach 200-300 million gallons per year by 1985. Thereafter, about 800 million gallons of ethanol could be produced per year. This level of ethanol production would displace an equivalent of 26,000 barrels of oil per day or less than one percent of US gasoline consumption; and (2) utilizing the best available technology before 1985 the net energy balance is about zero for ethanol produced from corn and other crops in fermentation/distillation plants. If the fermentation/distillation plants are fueled by coal or wood, each gallon of ethanol produced could save roughly 0.5 gallons of oil.

Research Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Research, Washington, DC. Energy Research Advisory Board
OSTI ID:
6324003
Report Number(s):
DOE/NBM-3012260; ON: DE83012260
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English