Estimating the required logistical resources to support the development of a sustainable corn stover bioeconomy in the USA

Ebadian, Mahmood; Sokhansanj, Shahab; Webb, Erin

doi:10.1002/bbb.1736

Title: Estimating the required logistical resources to support the development of a sustainable corn stover bioeconomy in the USA

Journal Article · Wed Nov 23 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1736· OSTI ID:1357968

Ebadian, Mahmood ^[1]; Sokhansanj, Shahab ^[1]; Webb, Erin ^[2]

Univ. of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC (Canada)
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

In this paper, the logistical resources required to develop a bioeconomy based on corn stover in the USA are quantified, including field equipment, storage sites, transportation and handling equipment, workforce, corn growers, and corn lands. These resources are essential to mobilize large quantities of corn stover from corn fields to biorefineries. The logistical resources are estimated over the lifetime of the biorefineries. Seventeen corn-growing states are considered for the logistical resource assessment. Over 6.8 billion gallons of cellulosic ethanol can be produced annually from 108 million dry tons of corn stover in these states. The maximum number of required field equipment (i.e., choppers, balers, collectors, loaders, and tractors) is estimated to be 194 110 units with a total economic value of about 26 billion dollars. In addition, 40 780 trucks and flatbed trailers would be required to transport bales from corn fields and storage sites to biorefineries with a total economic value of 4.0 billion dollars. About 88 899 corn growers need to be contracted with an annual net income of over 2.1 billion dollars. About 1903 storage sites would be required to hold 53.1 million dry tons of inventory after the harvest season. These storage sites would take up about 35 320.2 acres and 4077 loaders with an economic value of 0.4 billion dollars would handle this inventory. The total required workforce to run the logistics operations is estimated to be 50 567. Furthermore, the magnitude of the estimated logistical resources demonstrates the economic and social significance of the corn stover bioeconomy in rural areas in the USA.

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Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 1357968

Journal Information:: Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, Vol. 11, Issue 1; ISSN 1932-104X

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 17 works

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