Ethanol, the complete energy lifecycle picture
1/1/2006
Brochure presents a colorful story of the complete energy lifecycle of ethanol from corn to fuel. The model developed by Dr. Michael Wang of Argonne National Laboratory's Center for Transportation Research, is called GREET -- Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation. The brochure includes graphs showing the energy benefits of ethanol fuel and the low emission of greenhouse gases.
Authors: Wang, M.
Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environmental Goals
1/1/2006
To study the potential effects of increased biofuel use, we evaluated six representative analyses of fuel ethanol. Studies that reported negative net energy incorrectly ignored coproducts and used some obsolete data. All studies indicated that current corn ethanol technologies are much less petroleum-intensive than gasoline but have greenhouse gas emissions similar to those of gasoline. However, many important environmental effects of biofuel production are poorly understood. New metrics that measure specific resource inputs are developed, but further research into environmental metrics is needed. Nonetheless, it is already clear that large-scale use of ethanol for fuel will almost certainly require cellulosic technology.
Authors: Farrell, A.E.; Plevin, R.J.; Turner, B.T.; Jones, A.D.; O'Hare, M.; Kammen, D.M.
Steam Reforming of Ethanol at Elevated Pressures for Distributed Hydrogen Production
1/1/2006
Ethanol is an attractive renewable fuel because, as a liquid fuel, it has a high energy density, it is easy to transport, and it is environmentally more benign than petroleum-derived fuels. The hydrogen produced by reforming needs to be purified and compressed to the appropriate storage and dispensing pressures. Compressing hydrogen is energy intensive and can consume a significant fraction of the fuel's heating value. A promising option for producing hydrogen from ethanol is by conducting the ethanol steam reforming reaction at an elevated pressure, since injecting liquid feeds (ethanol and water) into a pressurized reactor requires very little energy.
Authors: Lee, S.; Papadias, D.; Ahluwalia, R.; Ahmed, S.
Ethanol in Gasoline: Environmental Impacts and Sustainability Review
12/1/2005
This study concerns the use of ethanol as a gasoline (petrol) additive, at levels around 10% byvolume (?E10?) as well as an 85% blend (?E85?). By detailed reviews of the peer-reviewed andtechnical literature, five environmental aspects of ethanol enrichment are examined: (1) its purportedreduction in air pollutant emissions; (2) its potential impact on subsurface soils and groundwater; (3)its purported reduction in greenhouse gas emissions; (4) the energy efficiency of ethanol; and (5) theoverall sustainability of ethanol production. The study indicates that E10 is of debatable air pollutionmerit (and may in fact increase the production of photochemical smog); offers little advantage interms of greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency or environmental sustainability; and willsignificantly increase both the risk and severity of soil and groundwater contamination. In contrast,E85 offers significant greenhouse gas benefits, however it will produce significant air pollutionimpacts, involves substantial risks to biodiversity, and its groundwater contamination impacts andoverall sustainability are largely unknown.q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Keywords: Gasoline; Ethanol; Energy; Groundwater; Air pollution; Environmental management
Authors: Niven, R.K.
Operating Experience and Teardown Analysis for Engines Operated on Biodiesel Blends (B20)
11/1/2005
The work described in this paper provides quantitative in-use data on the operating cost and engine durability impacts of B20 use in U.S. Postal Service (USPS) vehicles. This was accomplished through teardown analysis of engines and fuel systems removed from these vehicles and comparisons of wear characteristics to standard diesel vehicles operated in the same service. Engine- and fuel-related maintenance costs were also compared.
Authors: Fraer, R.; Dinh, H.; Proc, K.; McCormick, R.; Chandler, K.; Buchholz, B.
Operational Evaluation of Emissions and Fuel Use of B20 Versus Diesel Fueled Dump Trucks
9/30/2005
NCDOT is proceeding with the use of alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs), including biodiesel-fueled medium duty trucks. A significant number of counties in North Carolina will be designated for non-attainment for both ozone and particulate matter under forthcoming Federal environmental standards. Diesel vehicles contribute substantially to statewide emissions of NOx,an ozone precursor, and to particulate matter. NCDOT is conducting a pilot study to demonstrate the use of biodiesel (e.g., B20) fuel on approximately 1,000 vehicles in selected areas of the state; there are plans to extend the use of B20 fuel to a much larger number of vehicles in all 100 counties in North Carolina. There is a need for empirical quantification and comparison of emissions, fuel economy, and vehicle operation on both conventional and biodiesel fuels. Furthermore, there is a need for detailed insight into factors influencing both emissions and fuel consumption on a second-by-second basis in order to develop recommendations for improved operation to further reduce emissions and fuel consumption. The objectives of this project are to: (1) characterize baseline real-world in-use on-road emissions of selected heavy duty diesel vehicles, including those fueled with B20 biodiesel and petroleum diesel, during normal duty cycles; (2)characterize the episodic nature of emissions and fuel use; (3) identify factors responsible for variability in emissions and fuel use, with specific focus on factors leading to episodes of high emissions and fuel use; and (4) develop recommended strategies for reducing the frequency and duration of high emissions and fuel use episodes.
Authors: Frey, H.C.; Kim, K.
Updated Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emission Results of Fuel Ethanol
9/26/2005
In 2004, the U.S. used 3.4 billion gallons of fuel ethanol for blending with gasoline. Virtually all of it was produced from corn. The energy and environmental effects of use of corn-based ethanol has nonetheless been questioned. For example, a few researchers maintained that corn-basedethanol has a negative energy balance value (which means that more fossil energy is required to produce ethanol than the amount of energy in the produced ethanol) and results in increases in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to petroleum gasoline.Since 1997, the Center for Transportation Research of Argonne National Laboratory has been evaluating fuel ethanol?s energy and GHG emission impacts as part of its overall efforts of evaluating well-to-wheels energy and emission effects of various advanced vehicle technologies and transportation fuels. Argonne?s analysis, in agreement with many other recently completedstudies, concludes that corn-based ethanol achieves energy and GHG emission reduction benefits, relative to gasoline. This is mainly because of 1) improved corn productivity in U.S. corn farms in the past 30 years; 2) reduced energy use in ethanol plants in the past 15 years; and 3) appropriately addressing of ethanol?s co-products. Furthermore, Argonne concludes thatcellulosic ethanol to be produced from feedstocks such as woody or herbaceous biomass has much larger energy and GHG emission reduction benefits. This paper presents Argonne?s updated energy and GHG emission results of fuel ethanol in the U.S.
Authors: Wang, Michael
Alternative Fuel Driver Training Companion Manual
9/1/2005
In the summer of 2004, EPAct and Clean Cities worked together to develop a course to teach trainers how to educate fleet drivers on the use of alternative fuels and vehicles. This manual features the information presented in the classes, including the safe use of four alternative fuels: biodiesel, compressed natural gas, (CNG), E85, (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline), and propane.
Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report - September 2005
9/1/2005
The September 2005 issue of the Clean Cities Alternative Fuel Price Report is a quarterly report designed to keep you up to date on the prices of alternative fuels and conventional fuels in the U.S. This issue summarizes prices that were collected in the month of September 2005 from Clean Cities Coordinators, fuel providers, and other Clean Cities stakeholders.
Authors: Laughlin, M.
BSCL Use Plan: Solving Biomass Recalcitrance
8/31/2005
Saccharification of lignocellulosic biomass has long been recognized as a potential low-cost source of mixed sugars for fermentation to fuel ethanol or chemicals. Several technologies have been developed over the years that allow this conversion process to occur, yet the significant challenge remaining is to make the process cost competitive. For example, although total acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass has until recently been considered to be the most cost-effective process, it is still not competitive with petroleum and represents relatively mature technology with only modest opportunities for further cost reductions.
Authors: Himmel,Mike; Vinzant,Todd; Bower, Stanley; Jechura, John
Laying the Foundation for Biorefineries
8/30/2005
The 20th century was the century of the petrochemical economy. Biomass-derived fuels, chemicals, power, and materials will make the 21st centuryone in which domestic farmers and foresters help fuel as well as feed andhouse America. Advanced biomass conversion technology will play amajor role in eliminating the need for imported oil and the generation ofgreenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels. As the only renewable sourceof carbon-based fuels and chemicals, biomass will be a critical componentin reducing oil imports and environmental burdens from relying on fossilresources for fuels and chemicals. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)is supporting technology development for biorefineries and other biomassconversion industries, and the National Bioenergy Center (NBC) is thefocal point for research to make this technology possible.
Authors: U.S. DOE Biomass Program
Energy Policy Act of 2005
8/8/2005
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT 2005) included measuring governing energy efficiency, renewable energy, oil and gas use, clean coal power, nuclear energy, and vehicles and fuels including the use of alternative fuels, hybrid vehicles, fuel cell buses, clean fuel school buses, automobile efficiency, and diesel emissions reduction.
Authors: Public Law 109-58, 109th Congress
Yosemite Waters Vehicle Evaluation Report: Final Results
8/1/2005
This study was a joint effort between the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The overall goal of the project was to evaluate the use of gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel in combination with passive catalytic regenerative particle filters in real-world service and characterize regulated and unregulated exhaust pollutant emissions from GTL fuel in comparison to petroleum-derived diesel fuel.
Authors: Eudy, L.; Barnitt, R.; Alleman, T.