Economic and energetic evaluation of alcohol fuel production from agriculture: Yolo County, California

Thesis/Dissertation · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1983

OSTI ID:6898730

Meo, M

This dissertation reviews the technical aspects of alcohol fuel production and consumption, examines the set of policy-related issues that affect both the private and the public sectors, and investigates the economic and energetic feasibility of small-scale on-farm production on a representative Sacramento Valley field and vegetable crop farm. Candidate feedstocks, including both starch and sugar-rich crops, are: barley, corn, fodder beet, grain sorghum, Jerusalem artichoke, sugar beet, sweet sorghum, tomatoes, and wheat. The leading fuel crops were found to be sweet sorghum, Jerusalem artichoke, corn, fodder beet, and grain sorghum in order of declining preference. With better than average crop yields and the current mix of financial incentives, the breakeven cost of alcohol fuel is $1.03 per gallon when diesel fuel and gasoline prices are $1.30 and $1.46, respectively. Without subsidy, the breakeven cost is $1.62 per gallon. An energy analysis was calculated for each of the feedstocks under consideration. With the exception of sweet sorghum, wheat, and barley, all feedstocks showed a negative net energy balance. The use of agricultural residues as a boiler fuel, however, made a significant difference in the overall energy balance. The role of government in energy policy is reviewed and typical policy instruments are discussed. Although on-farm alcohol fuel production is not currently economically competitive with gasoline and diesel fuel, technological innovation and the return of increasing petroleum prices could alter the situation.

• OSTI ID: 6898730
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

090200* -- Alcohol Fuels-- (-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
293000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Policy
Legislation
& Regulation
299003 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation-- Other-- (-1989)
AGRICULTURE
ALCOHOL FUELS
CALIFORNIA
CROPS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY ANALYSIS
ENERGY POLICY
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FEDERAL REGION IX
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INDUSTRY
NORTH AMERICA
PRODUCTION
SYNTHETIC FUELS
USA