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.
Research: Biofuels to meet large portion of energy demand in the transportation sector
July 17th, 2009 by CATF,Article: David Tilman et al (2009). Beneficial Biofuels-The Food, Energy, and Environment Trilemma. Science. Vol. 325. no. 5938, pp. 270 – 271. DOI: 10.1126/science.1177970
Synopsis: David Tilman of the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior at the University of Minnesota, as well as researchers Robert Socolow, Jonathan A. Foley, Jason Hill, Eric Larsen, Robert Williams, Lee Lynd, Stephen Pascale, John Reilly and Tim Searchinger explain that if done correctly, the feedstocks mentioned in this article in tandem with increased efficiency and decreased fuel demand, “could produce enough biofuels to meet a substantial portion of future energy demand for transportation.”
In order for biofuels to be a beneficial alternative to fossil fuels, the production of the feedstock (considering both direct and indirect effects) must reduce GHG emissions as compared to fossil fuel combustion and must not compete with food production. Tilman et al offer 5 types of feedstock that meet these requirements and demonstrate the potential of biofuels as an alternative for fossil fuels especially in the transportation sector. Tilman and the coauthors stress the importance of sound public biofuel policy in promoting environmentally beneficial feedstocks.
Tilman et al explain that, “some initial analyses on the global potential of degraded lands suggest that they could meet meaningful amounts of current global demand for liquid transportation fuels.”
Tilman and the coauthors explain that sound biofuel policy will optimize “real energy gains, greenhouse-gas reductions, preservation of biodiversity, and maintenance of food security.” In addition, they stress that biofuels, as alternatives to fossil fuels, should only receive political support if “they make a positive impact on…energy security, greenhouse-gas emissions, biodiversity, and the sustainability of the food supply.”
The full article can be downloaded here.
CATF Op-Ed on the “Biodiesel Fallacy” in the Boston Globe
November 26th, 2007 by CATF,The “carbon neutral” bioenergy fallacy leads to policies that may have detrimental impacts on the environment. Growing feedstocks for fuel may displace food crop production and detract from available land for natural ecosystem services. In addition, the proposed biodiesel mandate in Massachusetts fails to account for the indirect land use change impacts associated with the conversion of agricultural and natural ecosystem lands to feedstock production.
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