Overview and evaluation of fuel ethanol from cellulosic biomass: Technology, economics, the environment, and policy
- Dartmouth Coll., Hanover, NH (United States)
The cellulosic ethanol fuel cycle has a high thermodynamic efficiency (useful energy/high heating value = from 50% to over 65% on a first law basis, depending on the configuration), and a decidedly positive net energy balance (ratio of useful energy output to energy input). Cellulosic ethanol is one of the most promising technological options available to reduce transportation sector greenhouse gas emissions. It may well be possible to develop biomass-based energy on a very large scale in the US with acceptable and in some case positive environmental impacts. To do so will however require responsible management and increased understanding of relevant technological and natural systems. The potential biomass resource is large, but so is demand for transportation fuels as well as other uses. The following hypotheses are offered as tentative hypotheses pertaining to biomass supply and demand in the US: there will probably not be enough suitable land available to meet transportation demand if total vehicle miles traveled increase relative to current levels, and vehicle efficiency and animal protein utilization are unchanged. There probably is enough suitable land to meet transportation demand, even given some increase in vehicle miles traveled, given large but probably possible increases in vehicle efficiency, or large but probably possible decreases in reliance on animal protein, or a combination of less aggressive changes in both of these factors. The policy debate concerning fuel ethanol has tended to ignore cellulosic ethanol. It is suggested that an appropriate policy objective is to foster a transition to cellulosic feedstocks at a pace such that opportunities for ethanol producers and the farmers that supply them are expanded rather than contracted. 164 refs., 6 figs., 12 tabs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- National Science Foundation, Washington, DC (United States); National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 415579
- Journal Information:
- Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, Vol. 21; Other Information: PBD: 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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