USDA report on Ethanol production: 1.9 to 2.3 BTUs in Ethanol for every 1 BTU of fossil fuel energy

[JohnWxy]

consumed to produce the ethanol. That's a 190% to 230% Net Energy Balance.


http://www.agnetwork.com/USDA-Releases-Corn-Ethanol-Industry-Report-Showing-Improving-Energy-Efficiency/2010-06-21/Article.aspx?oid=1123962&fid=ANM-VN-ENERGY

This report measures all conventional fossil fuel energy used in the production of 1 gallon of corn ethanol. For every British Thermal Unit (BTU) unit of energy required to make ethanol, 2.3 BTUs of energy are produced. The ratio is somewhat higher for some firms that are partially substituting biomass energy in processing energy.


2008 Energy Balance for the Corn Ethanol Industry, June 2010

Together, the recent energy use estimates show that the ratio of energy in ethanol to the external energy used to produce ethanol is about 1.4, even without allowing for the processing component of the byproduct credit. After fully allowing for heat used to produce byproducts, the energy ratio is between 1.9 and 2.3.

~~
~~

Some dry mills are already using up to 50 percent biomass power. The energy output for these plants is near 2.8 times energy inputs, even using the conservative byproduct allowance. As processors master the logistics of handling bulky biomass, the energy balance ratio could reach 26 BTUs of ethanol per BTU of inputs used.

It appears the Dept of Energy is still using a Net Energy Balance for Ethanol of 1.3 : 1 (based on 2002 data) to compute a GHG reduction vs gasoline of 28%.
see Ethanol Energy Balance click on: Ethanol - The complete Energy Lifecycle Picture Brochure (PDF 4 MB)

adjusting for the new Net Energy Balance, you get a 55% reduction in GHG emissions vs gasoline - on a BTU basis:

Data - year ......................................... 2002......... 2008
Ethanol: Net Energy Balance................... 1.30.......... 2.1
Ethanol GHG emissions rel to gasoline's... 0.72.......... 0.45
Ethanol GHG emissions reduction.............. -28%........ -55%

[kristopher]

1. Ethanol is not an answer for our personal transportation needs.

Even assuming this industry report with slipshod methodology were true, 1) the energy balance *still* sucks and 2) the 85% losses due to inefficiencies of the internal combustion engine didn't disappear.

[JohnWxy]

2. LOL!: Compared to what, that exists right now? that exists right now.

"the energy balance *still* sucks".... like what can you compare it to that is making a significant impact right now.

you are continuing to say that any report on the merits of ethanol is a claim that ethanol can do it all itself. Nobody has claimed that. It is just a technology that will help us with GW and use of imported fossil fuels.

As shown by the EPRI, electrics won't do it alone either. The EPRI report presents the possibility that electrics will reduce GHG emissions from surface transport
17% to 24% by 2030. They predict for 2050 GHG emissions reductions of 40% to 65%. Clearly this technology won't do it alone either.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=249362#250681">The EPRI report predicts for (2050) that PHEVs will yield "40% to 65% improvement over the conventional vehicle" in GHG emissions. Let's apply that rate to a fleet proportion of 42% (for 2030). You get a range of 16.8% to 27.3% reduction of GHG emissions for the entire car and truck fleet.

[JohnWxy]

3. note: meant to say EPRI report presents possibility of "17% - 27% GHG reduction by electrics by 2030