Biorefinery owners and operators have a natural incentive to ensure long-term sustainability through the feedstocks they use, the way theyre grown and replenished, and how their projects supportand are supported bytheir surrounding communities. In recent years, transportation has become one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. How much ethanol is in gasoline, and how does it affect fuel economy? USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. That study, published February in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, concluded that the combined climate-change and health costs are $469 million for gasoline, $472 million to $952 million for corn ethanol, and $123 million to $208 million for cellulosic ethanol. These evaporative emissions contribute to the formation of harmful, ground-level ozone and smog. Transitioning to a sustainable, net-zero GHG emissions economy in America will only be possible by embracing the clean energy biofuels provide. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. While studies conducted by Argonne and other respected labs include the most recent scientific data, other scientific papers on biofuel LCA continue to use old, disproven data. In 2021, emissions were reduced by 54.5 million tons. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Ethanol is a renewable, clean-burning fuel that can be blended with gasoline to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles. Check your lab's eligibility for Cytiva's syringe filter recycling programme. Using cellulosic ethanol provides an even greater benefit. Biofuels have been proven to emit significantly lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than petroleum-based fuels, and recent scientific studies indicate that net-zero emission biofuels are not only possible, but achievable. Just make sure to check your owners manual. By 2012, about a third of all corn produced in the U.S. will go towards making ethanol, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office. A pioneering study released today reveals Vertimass' new integrated, cost-efficient way of converting ethanol for fuel blends that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions between 40 and 96 percent. Many of the analyses to date have concluded that grain ethanol, biodiesel, and especially cellulosic ethanol substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in comparison to gasoline and diesel. Besides reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ethanol also cuts down on other harmful pollutants, like: So, not only is corn-based ethanol a smarter choice for the environment, its also a healthier one for you and your family. California regulators may rule that the biofuel is no better--and might be worse--than petroleum for solving climate change, California regulators, trying to assess the true environmental cost of corn ethanol, are poised to declare that the biofuel cannot help the state reduce global warming. Every gallon of gasoline burned creates about 8,887 grams of CO 2. U.S. growers produced 15.1 billion bushels, NASS said, which is the second-highest production on record. In 2019, the weighted average combined fuel economy of cars and light trucks was 22.2 miles per gallon (FHWA 2020). Secure .gov websites use HTTPS However, the plants that are the source of biomass for energy capture almost the same amount of CO 2 through photosynthesis while . These new findings provide further evidence that biofuels from America's heartland reduce greenhouse gases even more than we thought, and that our farmers and ethanol plants continue to become more efficient and effective, said Secretary Sonny Perdue. The most recent DOE study, published by Argonne National Laboratory in 2021, found that U.S. corn ethanol has 44%-52% lower GHG emissions than gasoline. "Results from the model have not been verified enough to be useful," said Harvey Blanch, a professor of biochemical engineering at University California, Berkeley, and one of the signatories. To continue advancements towards cellulosic ethanol which reduces greenhouse emissions by 90% compared to gasoline and make it more cost competitive, continued investment in corn ethanol is necessary, he said. The largest discrepancy among biofuel LCA over the last several years stems from the idea that the benefits of lower emission fuels are offset by the environmental harm caused by their production. It is liquid at room . _____ MYTH: In terms of emissions, ethanol pollutes the same as gasoline or more. Corncob ethanol may help cut China's greenhouse gas emissions. Burning either fossil fuels or biomass releases carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), a greenhouse gas. Where previous estimates anticipated farmers bringing additional land into production as a result of increased corn prices, recent analysis finds only modest increases in crop acreage. The Renewable Fuels Association says these technologies could reduce emissions by as much as 70% in the coming years. The study, led by Dr. Jan Lewandrowski of USDAs Office of the Chief Economist, and published in the journal Biofuels, supports findings of other research that ethanol has a significantly better greenhouse gas profile than previously estimated. They fear California's rule could stymie that, creating an unfair playing field that only penalizes biofuel production. America is a car culture and, despite the fact that many of us are able to work remotely, the majority of Americans are still reliant on their cars for work, school, travel, and everyday errands. Additional improvements at ethanol refineries, combined with on-farm conservation practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as reduced tillage and cover crops, have further decreased emissions associated with corn ethanol. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary's Office, Weatherization and Intergovernmental Programs Office, Systems Development & Integration Related Links, Consortium for Computational Physics & Chemistry, Feedstock-Conversion Interface Consortium, 1.5 billion gallons in 2000 to 16 billion gallons in 2018, other credible studies have found similar results, abundant U.S.-based biomass and waste resources, Lewandrowski, J, J. Rosenfeld, D. Pape, T. Hendrickson, K. Jaglo, & K. Moffroid. Theres Truth in Science. President Trump has made it abundantly clear he is unleashing the full potential of American energy production as we retake our rightful place as the worlds leader. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reported farmers experienced a near-record high for corn production. These studies include: As technology evolves, researchers are expecting ethanol to further reduce emissions. Ethanol readily biodegrades without harm to the environment, and is a safe, high-performance replacement for fuel additives such as MTBE. The table below shows the requirements of the ASTM D5798 Standard Specification for Ethanol Fuel Blends for Flexible-Fuel Automotive . Ethanol, in particular, can ensure complete combustion, reducing carbon monoxide emissions (US EPA 2010). USDA Study Shows Significant Greenhouse Gas Benefits of Ethanol Compared with Gasoline, More, Better, and New Market Opportunities, The greenhouse gas benefits of corn ethanolassessing recent evidence. Official websites use .gov The discovery marks a . In this role, she manages efforts to improve performance, lower costs, and accelerate market entry of bioenergy technologies. (for ethanol) and soybeans (for biodiesel). Greenhouse gases are atmospheric gases like water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane that trap heat from the sun. Transportation is the number one cause of greenhouse gas emissions in this country. More information on the greenhouse gas profile of biofuels is available at www.usda.gov/oce/oeep. For the vast majority of people, agriculture uses technology like tractors or combines. Greenhouse gas emissions from corn ethanol are 44-52 percent lower than gasoline, according to a new study from the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. When it comes to reducing transportations impact on the environment, corn-based ethanol is key. Use of ethanol can increase emissions of some air pollutants because fossil energy is used Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction. In [], Nebraska is the third largest corn-producing state in the United States. Multiple studies have shown ethanol diminishes greenhouse gases and other particulates emitted by vehicles. This article originally appeared at The Daily Climate, the climate change news source published by Environmental Health Sciences, a nonprofit media company. In the near futureand with NREL-developed technologyagricultural residues such as corn stover (the stalks, leaves, and husks of the plant) and wheat straw will also be . Knowledge awaits. 1 E10 and E15 As the worlds largest producer and consumer of biofuels, the United States is a critical leader in biofuel science, technology, and policy, and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has spent decades advancing the science behind biofuel emissions life cycle analysis (LCA). It would require all fuel suppliers in the state to reduce the life-cycle greenhouse gases from transportation fuel at least 20% by 2035. . Help shape the future of Nebraskas Corn Industry. Making ethanol from corn reduces atmospheric releases of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide because the CO2 emitted when the ethanol burns is "canceled out" by the carbon dioxide taken in by. This means that biofuels could be not just net-zero, but net-negative carbon emissions. Tip 1: Be conscious of and flexible with your transportation. Most U.S. biofuel comes in the form of ethanol, which is made from corn starch and then blended into gasoline. Hill countered that the ethanol industry has grown so fast that it has outpaced the science. Because biomass removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere throughout its lifetime via photosynthesis, net-negative emissions biofuels are possible when measures are taken to lower the emissions from biofuel production. The state must assess the full climate change impact of corn ethanol under a California law requiring a sharp cut in carbon emissions from transportation fuels. A typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. Biomass and biofuels made from biomass are alternative energy sources to fossil fuelscoal, petroleum, and natural gas. With science as a guide, DOE and partners have spent decades researching, studying, and testing ethanol and ethanol technologies, as well as second generation biofuels to best understand the potential for this essential, sustainable energy source. Most drivers are already using ethanol-blended fuels. Cellulosic emits fewer greenhouse gases than corn and has minimal impacts on deforestation rate, air pollution and food prices. Scientific research completed over the past two decades using improved LCA methods has identified several key trends that were difficult to predict in earlier studies, rendering those previous findings and forecasts inaccurate. Both efforts are likely to look at California's findings as a model. Federal law requires U.S. transportation fuels contain 36 billion gallons of renewable fuel by 2022, of which 21 billion gallons must be cellulosic ethanol. It is important to note that biofuel production and consumption, in and of itself, will not reduce GHG or conventional pollutant emissions, lessen petroleum imports, or alleviate pressure on exhaustible resources. These measures can include capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide emissions that occur during biomass fermentation. Cookies are required to use this site. Burning fossil fuel for electricity, heat and transportation has increased the levels of these gases, according to the EPA, which has contributed to a rise in the Earths average temperature and changing weather patterns. 2022 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. Waste streams and reusable carbon sources (e.g., the non-recyclable portions of municipal solid waste; wastewater treatment sludges, and manure slurries; food waste; and carbon dioxide and industrial waste gases). With access to these tools, [], When people think of cutting edge-technology, they tend to think of big companies like Google or Amazon in big cities. The Renewable Fuels Association says using ethanol and other biofuels has reduced transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by 980 million tons since 2008. The board must encourage the use of cleaner alternatives like electricity, hydrogen and cellulosic ethanol, said board spokesman Dimitri Stanich. Are there other sources of greenhouse gas . Significance. An estimated 98% of all gasoline sold in the United States contains 10% ethanol. But an overwhelming majority of ethanol mixed into gasoline today comes from corn. As a result, FFVs running on high-level blends of ethanol produce less net CO 2 than conventional vehicles per mile traveled. Investment in low-GHG fuels will help to address issues of environmental justice in rural and underserved communities to ensure they are not left behind in the clean energy transition. "Specific to Oregon, the study found that if Oregon . The GHG emissions of a biofuel depend on what its made from, how and where its made, and how its usedthe full life cycle of the biomass, biofuel production, and use. Forrestal Building1000 Independence Avenue, SWWashington, DC 20585. A regional low carbon fuel standard has also been adopted by eleven northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Aug 08, 2018. In Nebraska, were doing our part to produce clean fuels. Lincoln, NE 68521-6729, 2022 Nebraska Corn Board. Using ethanol can reduce oil dependence and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Scientists develop a chemocatalytic approach for one-pot reaction of cellulosic ethanol. Such papers present provocative findings about potentialbut demonstrably avoidablepitfalls of biofuels, while failing to consider public and private efforts to ensure biofuels are sustainably produced at a large scale. Argonne National Laboratory is recognized globally as one of the leading experts in this type of LCA research and other credible studies have found similar results. Cellulosic ethanol can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85% over reformulated gasoline.By contrast, starch ethanol (e.g., from corn), which most frequently uses natural gas to provide energy for the process, may not reduce greenhouse gas emissions at all depending on how the starch-based feedstock is produced. Most life-cycle studies have found that replacing gasoline with ethanol modestly reduces greenhouse gases (GHGs) if made from corn and substantially if made from cellulose or sugarcane ( 1 - 7 ). Low-GHG liquid transportation fuel production can provide jobs to rural economies and help decarbonize remote communities without near-term access to electric vehicle charging stations and thus reliant on existing fueling infrastructure. Nebraska Corn Board works to promote the value of corn by creating opportunities. But did you know that todays farmers use cutting-edge technology like lasers, robotics and intelligent software? A study we just published in the journal Biofuels found that the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from corn ethanol are about 39 percent lower than gasoline on energy equivalent basis. A recent study looking at the total climate change and health costs from fuels found that corn-based ethanol equals or exceeds the costs of gasoline. "A recent study by Air Improvement Resources found that using E15 across the nation would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17 million tons per year, the equivalent of taking nearly 4 million cars off the road," wrote Growth Energy in response to Oregon's state proposal. It's supposed to reduce greenhouse gas. A 2020 analysis by Argonne National Laboratory found that using corn-based ethanol in place of gasoline reduces life cycle GHG emissions on average by 40%.
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