Browsing by Subject "cellulosic ethanol"
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Item An Environmental and Policy Evaluation of Cellulosic Ethanol(2012-07-16) Hurtado, Lisa DianeAs the global demand for energy rises, there are significant efforts to find alternative energy sources. In the United States (US), these efforts are primarily motivated by a desire to increase energy security and reduce the potential impacts on climate change caused by carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels. Biofuels are considered a potential partial solution, which are being encouraged through public policy. Cellulosic ethanol is a biofuel that is required in increasing amounts over time as part of the Renewable Fuel Standards. Thus, researchers are exploring the environmental impacts of using this biofuel on a large scale. This dissertation research performed an environmental evaluation using the Life Cycle Assessment technique on Bioenergy Sorghum, a crop which was specifically produced as an energy crop, used in a conversion process (MixAlco version 1) that can produce cellulosic ethanol. Results indicate that the conversion process is highly optimized with minimal environmental concerns. Analysis of the crop production, however, demonstrate that further investigation is warranted regarding the depletion of natural resources and emissions from the fertilizers and pesticides/herbicides, due to large scale production of energy crops. A new policy is proposed to support the sustainable, environmentally responsible development of cellulosic ethanol in the US.Item Three Essays on Bioenergy Production in the United States(2013-12-02) Wlodarz, MartaThis dissertation examines future prospects of bioenergy production in the United States. The analysis examines three issues on liquid fuel and cellulosic ethanol. First, the amount that costs need to decrease in order to make cellulosic ethanol competitive, considering both production and market penetration costs. Second, the potential effect of mandate relaxations and carbon market related payments on liquid fuel production potential. Third, the effects of ignoring or considering asset fixity of refinery construction on liquid fuel production and market penetration. These analyses are framed using a theoretical graphical analysis then are empirically carried out using a version of the U.S. agricultural sector mathematical programming model FASOMGHG which is augmented and expanded to accommodate the issues examined. The main findings are: 1) processing costs of cellulosic ethanol need to be reduced by at least 70% to make cellulosic ethanol production fully cost competitive; 2) removal of market penetration barriers also are also a big contributor to the market presence of bioethanol; 3) carbon pricing and other market mechanisms provide incentives for more ethanol production; 4) greenhouse gas payments entail additional revenues flowing to the bioethanol industry and as a result, increase volumes of total ethanol produced and 5) asset fixity provides a major barrier to ethanol production increases. Furthermore under asset fixity: 1) cellulosic ethanol production is reduced when mandates hold; 2) cellulosic ethanol production is virtually eliminated when mandates are not in place; 3) asset fixity has a more significant impact on the amount of ethanol produced when no market penetration barriers are in place; 4) asset fixity influences the generation of biodiesel by changing its feedstock structure.