In response to Don Gordon’s column, I reviewed several recent articles on ethanol as a renewable fuel. A recent article published in the 2006 edition of Science (Vol. 311:5760: 506-08), provides a current status of the published research and overall offers an analysis that ethanol production has environmental benefits.
The article, entitled “Ethanol Can Contribute to Energy and Environment Goals,” was authored by Farrell and five collaborating scientists. Although there are other articles with a positive story, this came from the most reputable journal.
The scientists of this article cited several published studies with only the Pimentel and Patzel showing negative data. The article reported their basis for a negative net energy gain by omitting the values of co-products such as distillers dried grain, corn gluten, and corn oil, as well as using some outdated energy input data.
In brief, the study reported that current ethanol produced from conventionally grown corn produces slightly fewer greenhouse gases than using gasoline, but the production of ethanol requires much less petroleum inputs. Depending upon the milling practice and the energy source used, the composite data based on current technology has a net equivalency around 1.6; and as cellulosic ethanol technology continues to develop, the net equivalency will increase the per acre ethanol production.
Renewable fuel factors into U.S. energy policy in three ways: 1) reduction of greenhouse gases which contribute to global warming; 2) independence from foreign oil; and 3) use of water in the processing/ manufacturing of ethanol.
The Science article, using standardized data analysis, shows that the current ethanol fuel blend reduces slightly CO2 emissions. This is certainly a step in the right direction and as ethanol plants gain in efficiency, as farmers move toward no-till farming, and as cellulose becomes a greater source of ethanol, the reduction in carbon dioxide could be reduced by as much as 50% or more. Also, with MBTE being phased out after being identified as a ground water pollutant, ethanol has been approved as the renewable fuel oxidant in all but 22 states.
The need for energy independence is self-evident; and to put the current U.S. oil imports into context, it has been calculated that Saudi Arabia alone receives an additional $1 trillion dollars for every $4 increase for a barrel of crude oil. The emerging technological advances in ethanol and related renewable fuel technologies places it as the short term economic stabilizers in this major transfer of wealth.
The third factor, water, is a critical issue; and as the Science article suggests, Pimentel calculated water use on 100 percent of the corn crop rather than approximate 12 percent grown for ethanol. The industry is improving water consumption. Five to seven years ago, 5-6 gallons of water was required for each gallon of ethanol manufactured. Now the number is around 2.83 gallons in the newer plants, and new technology will further increase water efficiency. Also, new corn hybrids use less water. Furthermore, we apparently are making the assumption that refining crude oil requires no water.
With today’s technology, the Science report puts current ethanol production as a positive net equivalency. Although the technology has room for improvement to gain a significant position in addressing our national needs; the industry is providing an important short term step in the development of a renewable national fuel resource.
A national dialogue will be essential in crafting a national energy policy.
Sitting on the sidelines will not work as we move through the greatest paradigm shift of our century — seeking energy with a reduced carbon footprint. With no action, renewable energy will have ownership in other continents like Europe and Asia. This great paradigm shift we are moving through will require the wise development and advancement of new ideas as we shift toward renewable energy and a reduced carbon footprint.
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