Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States

Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 86
Release: 2008-01-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309185653

Download Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

National interests in greater energy independence, concurrent with favorable market forces, have driven increased production of corn-based ethanol in the United States and research into the next generation of biofuels. The trend is changing the national agricultural landscape and has raised concerns about potential impacts on the nation's water resources. To help illuminate these issues, the National Research Council held a colloquium on July 12, 2007 in Washington, DC. Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States, based in part on discussions at the colloquium, concludes that if projected future increases in use of corn for ethanol production do occur, the increase in harm to water quality could be considerable from the increases in fertilizer use, pesticide use, and soil erosion associated with growing crops such as corn. Water supply problems could also develop, both from the water needed to grow biofuels crops and water used at ethanol processing plants, especially in regions where water supplies are already overdrawn. The production of "cellulosic ethanol," derived from fibrous material such as wheat straw, native grasses, and forest trimmings is expected to have less water quality impact but cannot yet be produced on a commerical scale. To move toward a goal of reducing water impacts of biofuels, a policy bridge will likely be needed to encourage growth of new technologies, best agricultural practies, and the development of traditional and cellulosic crops that require less water and fertilizer and are optimized for fuel production.

Energy-Water Nexus

Energy-Water Nexus
Author: Anu Mittal
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 54
Release: 2010-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1437926266

Download Energy-Water Nexus Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

In response to concerns about the nation¿s energy dependence on imported oil, and climate change, the fed. gov¿t. has encouraged the use of biofuels. Water plays a crucial role in all stages of biofuel production -- from cultivation of feedstock through its conversion into biofuel. As demand for water from various sectors increases and places additional stress on already constrained supplies, the effects of expanded biofuel production must be considered. This report examined: (1) water resource effects of biofuel production in the U.S.; (2) agr. conservation practices and technological innovations that could address these effects and any barriers to their adoption; and (3) research needs regarding the effects of water resources on biofuel production.

Perspectives on Water Usage for Biofuels Production

Perspectives on Water Usage for Biofuels Production
Author: Muhammad Arshad
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 129
Release: 2017-11-24
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3319664085

Download Perspectives on Water Usage for Biofuels Production Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

The book integrates the fundamental factors that determine current and future impacts of biofuels production on water supply and demand in the context of climatic changes. The effects of biofuels production on ground water quality with increasing water scarcity are examined, and the utilization of water sources in the commercial scale production of biofuels are sketched, covering the complete route from growing of crops to biorefinery. Biofuel's chemical composition, characteristics and uses as fuel in terms of water consumption are also investigated. Overall, the diversity of biomass, various technological approaches and microbial contribution are reviewed. Learning objectives on this topic are presented by means of a series of tables and figures in order to guide both professionals and students. The present manuscript deals with biofuel and bioenergy courses and is therefore invaluable to students. The book provides thorough coverage of all industrial aspects of biofuels production, including impacts of climate change and water availability. It will play vital role for industry employees involved in product development, production management, quality management and helpful source to those studying for professional qualification. Academics involved in teaching elements of the subject and persons involved in an environment regulatory capacity would be able to take advantage from this book.

Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States

Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States
Author: Committee on Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States
Publisher:
Total Pages: 88
Release: 2008-01-09
Genre:
ISBN: 9780309383943

Download Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

National interests in greater energy independence, concurrent with favorable market forces, have driven increased production of corn-based ethanol in the United States and research into the next generation of biofuels. The trend is changing the national agricultural landscape and has raised concerns about potential impacts on the nation's water resources. To help illuminate these issues, the National Research Council held a colloquium on July 12, 2007 in Washington, DC. "Water Implications of Biofuels Production in the United States," based in part on discussions at the colloquium, concludes that if projected future increases in use of corn for ethanol production do occur, the increase in harm to water quality could be considerable from the increases in fertilizer use, pesticide use, and soil erosion associated with growing crops such as corn. Water supply problems could also develop, both from the water needed to grow biofuels crops and water used at ethanol processing plants, especially in regions where water supplies are already overdrawn. The production of "cellulosic ethanol," derived from fibrous material such as wheat straw, native grasses, and forest trimmings is expected to have less water quality impact but cannot yet be produced on a commerical scale. To move toward a goal of reducing water impacts of biofuels, a policy bridge will likely be needed to encourage growth of new technologies, best agricultural practies, and the development of traditional and cellulosic crops that require less water and fertilizer and are optimized for fuel production.

Environmental Impact of Biofuels

Environmental Impact of Biofuels
Author: Marco Aurelio Dos Santos Bernardes
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 284
Release: 2011-09-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9533074795

Download Environmental Impact of Biofuels Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This book aspires to be a comprehensive summary of current biofuels issues and thereby contribute to the understanding of this important topic. Readers will find themes including biofuels development efforts, their implications for the food industry, current and future biofuels crops, the successful Brazilian ethanol program, insights of the first, second, third and fourth biofuel generations, advanced biofuel production techniques, related waste treatment, emissions and environmental impacts, water consumption, produced allergens and toxins. Additionally, the biofuel policy discussion is expected to be continuing in the foreseeable future and the reading of the biofuels features dealt with in this book, are recommended for anyone interested in understanding this diverse and developing theme.

Biofuels and Sustainability

Biofuels and Sustainability
Author: Kazuhiko Takeuchi
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 261
Release: 2018-07-13
Genre: Science
ISBN: 4431548955

Download Biofuels and Sustainability Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This open access book presents a comprehensive analysis of biofuel use strategies from an interdisciplinary perspective using sustainability science. This interdisciplinary perspective (social science-natural science) means that the strategies and policy options proposed will have significant impacts on the economy and society alike. Biofuels are expected to contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, revitalizing economies in agricultural communities and alleviating poverty. However, despite these anticipated benefits, international organizations such as the FAO, OECD and UN have published reports expressing concerns that biofuel promotion may lead to deforestation, water pollution and water shortages. The impacts of biofuel use are extensive, cross-sectoral and complex, and as such, comprehensive analyses are required in order to assess the extent to which biofuels can contribute to sustainable societies. Applying interdisciplinary sustainability science concepts and methodologies, the book helps to enhance the establishment of a sustainable society as well as the development of appropriate responses to a global need for urgent action on current issues related to biofuels.

The Agricultural Water Use Impacts of Biofuel Cultivation in the United States, and of California's Future Transportation Fuels

The Agricultural Water Use Impacts of Biofuel Cultivation in the United States, and of California's Future Transportation Fuels
Author: Jacob Everett Teter
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2015
Genre:
ISBN: 9781339542249

Download The Agricultural Water Use Impacts of Biofuel Cultivation in the United States, and of California's Future Transportation Fuels Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Interdependencies between water and energy resources are emerging as one of the core concerns of resource management. Integrating a successful transition to low-carbon transportation technologies together with effective water resource management requires an understanding of regionally appropriate water-energy nexus impacts. This thesis seeks to further the understanding of the water use impacts of transport energy supply chains. In the first chapter, the development of a new model that can be used to estimate crop-water balances and irrigation water use across large geographic scopes is described. The model developed here, CropWatR, can be used to estimate annual and seasonal water flows between the soil, crops (or other non-forested landscapes), and the atmosphere at a daily time-step, and includes irrigation scheduling. It is made available on github and written in the R open-source language, which will be useful to other researchers in the future. In chapter two, the CropWatR model is applied to outputs of an integrated agriculture-energy-economic model designed to offer insights into the potential greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, fuel use, and economic impacts of biofuel production incentivized by selected policy instruments in the United States. The regional and national crop-water balances and potential trade-offs in water resource consumption and availability are compared across two biofuel policy scenarios, including the current federal legislation (the Renewable Fuels Standard), a hypothetical national extension of a policy similar to California's Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS), and a no-policy counterfactual. Regional hotspots are identified where policies promoting domestic biofuels production might lead to decreased water resource availability. The third chapter focuses on the water use of all major energy supply chains providing energy for transport demand in California. The water use for in- and out-of-state oil and natural gas production, biofuel feedstocks cultivation, and electricity generation were characterized based on primary data sources within the state, and literature on the water footprint of energy production and transformation. This inventory of current water use intensity is combined with an energy-economic optimization model that projects energy pathways under various climate and energy policies (including California's 2050 GHG reduction target, Renewable Portfolio Standards, and the LCFS, inter alia) to project the water use implications of scenarios given California's climate, energy, and water policy. Chapters two and three provide case studies illustrating a lesson has been increasingly recognized in the literature and among policy makers: that effective resource management requires an integrated approach to understand the potential tradeoffs. Policy designs using integrated approach can maximize the benefits and can minimize unintended consequences.

Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels in the United States

Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels in the United States
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 247
Release: 2013-01-18
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309260329

Download Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels in the United States Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Biofuels made from algae are gaining attention as a domestic source of renewable fuel. However, with current technologies, scaling up production of algal biofuels to meet even 5 percent of U.S. transportation fuel needs could create unsustainable demands for energy, water, and nutrient resources. Continued research and development could yield innovations to address these challenges, but determining if algal biofuel is a viable fuel alternative will involve comparing the environmental, economic and social impacts of algal biofuel production and use to those associated with petroleum-based fuels and other fuel sources. Sustainable Development of Algal Biofuels was produced at the request of the U.S. Department of Energy.

Economic Effects of Biofuel Production

Economic Effects of Biofuel Production
Author: Marco Aurelio Dos Santos Bernardes
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 466
Release: 2011-08-29
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9533071788

Download Economic Effects of Biofuel Production Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

This book aspires to be a comprehensive summary of current biofuels issues and thereby contribute to the understanding of this important topic. Readers will find themes including biofuels development efforts, their implications for the food industry, current and future biofuels crops, the successful Brazilian ethanol program, insights of the first, second, third and fourth biofuel generations, advanced biofuel production techniques, related waste treatment, emissions and environmental impacts, water consumption, produced allergens and toxins. Additionally, the biofuel policy discussion is expected to be continuing in the foreseeable future and the reading of the biofuels features dealt with in this book, are recommended for anyone interested in understanding this diverse and developing theme.

Biofuel Impacts on Water

Biofuel Impacts on Water
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 31
Release: 2011
Genre:
ISBN:

Download Biofuel Impacts on Water Book in PDF, Epub and Kindle

Sandia National Laboratories and General Motors Global Energy Systems team conducted a joint biofuels systems analysis project from March to November 2008. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility, implications, limitations, and enablers of large-scale production of biofuels. 90 billion gallons of ethanol (the energy equivalent of approximately 60 billion gallons of gasoline) per year by 2030 was chosen as the book-end target to understand an aggressive deployment. Since previous studies have addressed the potential of biomass but not the supply chain rollout needed to achieve large production targets, the focus of this study was on a comprehensive systems understanding the evolution of the full supply chain and key interdependencies over time. The supply chain components examined in this study included agricultural land use changes, production of biomass feedstocks, storage and transportation of these feedstocks, construction of conversion plants, conversion of feedstocks to ethanol at these plants, transportation of ethanol and blending with gasoline, and distribution to retail outlets. To support this analysis, we developed a 'Seed to Station' system dynamics model (Biofuels Deployment Model - BDM) to explore the feasibility of meeting specified ethanol production targets. The focus of this report is water and its linkage to broad scale biofuel deployment.