Strategies to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign oil, increase the use of renewable energy, and lessen the contribution to global warming have received significant attention. National adoption of such strategies could significantly impact America’s economy and security as well as global climate change. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) mandates specific renewable energy market penetration targets for the year 2022 [1]. For liquid transportation fuels, the 2022 EISA mandate is 36 billion gallons per year (bgy) of biofuel, of which 21 bgy must come from feedstocks other than corn starch. Despite this legal mandate for renewable biofuels, many questions remain unanswered with regard to the potential environmental effects of such a large increase in the production and use of biofuels. In addition to specifying volumetric standards for these renewable fuels, EISA establishes greenhouse gas mitigation standards. The objective of this study is to use life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the global warming potential (GWP), water use, and net energy value (NEV) associated with the EISA-mandated 16 bgy cellulosic biofuels target, which is assumed in this study to be met by cellulosic-based ethanol, and the EISA-mandated 15 bgy conventional corn ethanol target. Specifically, this study compares, on a per-kilometer-driven basis, the GWP, water use, and NEV for the year 2022 for several biomass feedstocks.
Skip Nav Destination
ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer and InterPACK09 Conferences
July 19–23, 2009
San Francisco, California, USA
Conference Sponsors:
- Advanced Energy Systems Division and Solar Energy Division
ISBN:
978-0-7918-4889-0
PROCEEDINGS PAPER
Life Cycle Assessment of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: Ethanol—Global Warming Potential and Environmental Emissions
Garvin A. Heath,
Garvin A. Heath
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Search for other works by this author on:
David D. Hsu,
David D. Hsu
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Search for other works by this author on:
Daniel Inman,
Daniel Inman
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Search for other works by this author on:
Andy Aden,
Andy Aden
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Search for other works by this author on:
Margaret K. Mann
Margaret K. Mann
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Search for other works by this author on:
Garvin A. Heath
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
David D. Hsu
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Daniel Inman
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Andy Aden
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Margaret K. Mann
National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO
Paper No:
ES2009-90037, pp. 857-861; 5 pages
Published Online:
September 29, 2010
Citation
Heath, GA, Hsu, DD, Inman, D, Aden, A, & Mann, MK. "Life Cycle Assessment of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: Ethanol—Global Warming Potential and Environmental Emissions." Proceedings of the ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the Heat Transfer and InterPACK09 Conferences. ASME 2009 3rd International Conference on Energy Sustainability, Volume 1. San Francisco, California, USA. July 19–23, 2009. pp. 857-861. ASME. https://doi.org/10.1115/ES2009-90037
Download citation file:
10
Views
0
Citations
Related Proceedings Papers
Related Articles
Developments in Fermentative Butanol Production as an Alternative Biofuel Source
J. Energy Resour. Technol (April,2018)
Prospects for Biofuels: A Review
J. Thermal Sci. Eng. Appl (June,2013)
Related Chapters
Part B: Torrefaction of Lignocellulosic Agricultural Waste into Biocoal
Biomass and Waste Energy Applications
Part A: Farm Waste to Energy
Biomass and Waste Energy Applications
General and Historical Information
Pipeline Integrity Assurance: A Practical Approach