Biofuel Feedstock Assessment for Selected Countries
Findings from biofuel feedstock production assessments and projections of future supply are presented and discussed. The report aims to improve capabilities to assess the degree to which imported biofuel could contribute to meeting future U.S. targets to reduce dependence on imported oil. The study scope was focused to meet time and resource requirements. A screening process identified Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, India, Mexico, and the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) region for initial analysis, given their likely role in future feedstock supply relevant to U.S. markets. Supply curves for selected feedstocks in these countries are projected for 2012, 2017 and 2027. The supply functions, along with calculations to reflect estimated supplies available for export and/or biofuel production, were provided to DOE for use in a broader energy market allocation study. Potential cellulosic supplies from crop and forestry residues and perennials were also estimated for 2017 and 2027. The analysis identified capacity to potentially double or triple feedstock production by 2017 in some cases. A majority of supply growth is derived from increasing the area cultivated (especially sugarcane in Brazil). This is supplemented by improving yields and farming practices. Most future supplies of corn and wheat are projected to be allocated to food and feed. Larger shares of future supplies of sugarcane, soybean and palm oil production will be available for export or biofuel. National policies are catalyzing investments in biofuel industries to meet targets for fuel blending that generally fall in the 5-10% range. Social and environmental concerns associated with rapid expansion of feedstock production are considered. If the 2017 projected feedstock supply calculated as ‘available’ for export or biofuel were converted to fuel, it would represent the equivalent of about 38 billion gallons of gasoline. Sugarcane and bagasse dominate the available supply, representing 64% of the total. Among the nations studied, Brazil is the source of about two-thirds of available supplies, followed distantly by Argentina (12%), India and the CBI region.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); USDOE - Office of Policy and International Affairs (PO)
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-AC05-00OR22725
- OSTI ID:
- 924080
- Report Number(s):
- ORNL/TM-2007/224; BM102060; TRN: US200806%%468
- Resource Relation:
- Related Information: This publication presents the results from research jointly sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Policy and International Affairs (PI) and Office of the Biomass Program within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. DOE oversight and guidance were provided by Mike Curtis and Bhima Sastri in DOE/PI and Zia Haq in DOE/EERE/Biomass Program. UT Battelle, LLC manages the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC05-00OR22725
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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