RESEARCH: An economic evaluation of existing biofuel policies
April 6th, 2010 by CATF,Article: Babcock, Bruce A. Mandates, Tax Credits and Tariffs: Does the U.S. Biofuels Industry Need Them All? CARD Policy Brief 10-PB1. March 2010.
Synopsis: The article “Mandates, Tax Credits, and Tariffs: Does the U.S. Biofuels Industry Need Them All?” by researcher Bruce A. Babcok of the Center for Agricultureal and Rural Development explains that the way in which the “new mandates will be implemented shows that biofuel producers will receive little or no additional benefit from tax credits” and that “ethanol import tariffs will provide U.S. corn ethanol producers a cost advantage over imported Brazilian sugarcane ethanol until at least 2013.”
Biofuel mandates specify certain volumes of consumer fuel demand that must be met through the use of conventional biofuels, noncellulosic advanced biofuels, or biodiesel each year. Despite this guaranteed demand for ethanol, the U.S. biofuels industry continues to push to maintain tax credits and foreign ethanol import tariffs. Babcock conducts a simple economic analysis of these policies.
Babcock finds that given the established mandates, unless oil prices climb high enough to push the demanded quantity of ethanol higher than the mandated volume, the tax credits will have no effect on biofuel industry profits. Babcock also explains that after 2013 the import tariff will become redundant as Brazilian sugarcane ethanol will be used to meet the mandate for advanced noncellulosic biofuels and will no longer be in direct competition with the U.S. corn ethanol industry.
The complete article can be viewed here.
RESEARCH: Using macroalgae as a biofuel feedstock can reduce land and fertilizer requirements
March 25th, 2010 by CATF,Article: Goh, C.S. and K.T. Lee. A visionary and conceptual macroalgae-based third-generation bioethanol (TGB) biorefinery in Sabah, Malaysia as an underlay for renewable and sustainable development. Renewable and Sustainable Review. Vol.14(2), Pp. 842-848
The large majority of biofuels produced worldwide come from terrestrial plants, increasing competition for agricultural land and reducing some of the original benefits of the fuel source. This paper proposes that macroalgae such as seaweed could be a better biofuel feedstock, since the production of these algae does not require arable land or fertilizers. The feasibility of converting seaweed carbohydrates to ethanol is still in question, but recent research is outlined in this paper. Additionally, the operation of a potential biorefinery site for this material in Malaysia is described in detail.
The complete article can be downloaded here.
RESEARCH: Second-generation biofuel technology potential
March 25th, 2010 by CATF,Article: SN Naik et al (2010). Production of first and second generation biofuels: A comprehensive review. Renewable and Sustainable Review. Vol. 14(2), pp.578-597
Due to a number of environmental factors, it appears that it will be difficult for first-generation biofuel production (the creation of simple sugars directly from OM) to be a sustainable fuel source. However, second-generation production, which uses more advanced chemical processes to produce more complex fuel productions, has the potential to be environmentally feasible. This paper gives a comprehensive review of the current available technologies for converting biomass into a number of useful chemical products through second-generation processing.
The full article can be downloaded here.
RESEARCH: Biofuel production from microalgae
March 25th, 2010 by CATF,Article: TM Mata et al (2010). Microalgae for biodiesel production and other applications: A review. Renewable and Sustainable Review. Vol. 14(1), pp. 217-232
Given the land use issues that arise from producing biofuels from terrestrial plants, some scientists have recommended the use of microalgae as an alternative biofuel feedstock. This paper outlines the current status of biofuel production from microalgae, discussing current methods and research in cultivation, harvesting and processing. A great overview for those with little understanding of how microalgae would work as a fuel source.
The full article can be downloaded here.
RESEARCH: Algae may have a higher environmental impact than conventional feedstocks
March 25th, 2010 by CATF,Article: A.F. Clarens et al (2010). Environmental Life Cycle Comparison of Algae to Other Bioenergy Feedstocks. Environ Sci Techno., 44 (5), pp 1813–1819
Given the land use issues associated with producing crops or grasses for biofuels, some scientists have recommended that algae be used as a primary fuel feedstock. A new life cycle analysis finds that in terms of energy use, GHG emissions, and water use, the algae feedstock actually has a higher environmental impact than using conventional crops as feedstocks; its only advantage appears to be it consumes a lower total land area. However, if wastewater (specifically source-separated urine) is used to cultivate algae, its net environmental benefit becomes larger than terrestrial crops.
CATF Applauds EPA Decision to Regulate Biofuels’ Full Effect on Climate … But Remains Deeply Concerned About Model Outcomes
February 3rd, 2010 by CATF,In a final rule revising the RFS, EPA agreed to calculate the extent to which biofuel production mandate indirectly affects land use patterns around the world by increasing demand for farmland. CATF applauds the decision to account for the impact those land use changes have on global warming. However, much work remains to be done to ensure US biofuel policy promotes fuels that truly benefit the environment.
Click here for complete press release.
RESEARCH: Bioenergy Policies Must Not Ignore Indirect Land Use Emissions
October 30th, 2009 by CATF,Article: T Searchinger et al (2009). Fixing a Critical Climate Accounting Error. Science. Vol.326. no.5972, pp.527-528
In “Fixing a Critical Climate Error,” a collection of leading energy experts found that the GHG emissions accounting method used in the Kyoto Protocol and in many national-level policies fails to consider emissions from land use when biomass for energy is harvested or grown. Instead, the policies treat all bioenergy as carbon neutral — even though there are significant differences in net emissions depending on the source of the biomass being used and its net land-use effects.
NPR coverage: Scientists: Biofuels Laws May Harm Environment
RESEARCH: Molasses-based sugarcane biofuels demonstrate potential
October 16th, 2009 by CATF,Article: AR Gopal et al (2009). Molasses for ethanol: the economic and environmental impacts of anew pathway for the lifecycle greenhouse gas analysis of sugarcane ethanol. Environ. Res. Lett. 4 (October-December 2009) 044005
Sugarcane biofuels are generally considered to have a more positive environmental impact than biofuels from other sources. These fuels are most commonly created from mill-pressed cane juices, but many producers use combinations of cane juice and molasses as a feedstock. This study finds that molasses-based sugarcane biofuels have a lifecycle GHG rating of 15.1 grams CO2 per MJ, well below the requirement for many standards. For example, the California low carbon fuel standard requires a lifecycle rating of below 26.6 grams CO2 per MJ.
The full article can be downloaded here.
CATF: Senate Committee Must Allow EPA to Consider Land Use Change Emissions
September 21st, 2009 by CATF,In a letter submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee, CATF and dozens of other environmental organizations called on senators to reject an amendment that would thwart EPA’s attempt to scientifically analyze the greenhouse gas emissions that result from land use changes around the world related to increased biofuel production.
CATF Urges EPA to Strengthen Emissions Analysis in RFS Proposal
September 25th, 2009 by CATF,In a pair of comment letters submitted to EPA, CATF commended the agency for counting GHG emissions from indirect land use change in its proposed RFS implementation rule, and urged EPA to base it analysis on the most current data and modeling tools. CATF filed comments in conjunction with a collection of other environmental groups on a wide range of issues, while also providing EPA with separate detailed comments on issues of particular concern.
Environmental Community Comments on EPA’s RFS2 Proposal
CATF and FOE Comments on EPA’s RFS2 Proposal
Press Release on CATF’s Comments
Tags: administrative comment, EPA, ILUC, land use, policy, regulation, Renewable Fuel Standard, RFS
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