Dr. Steffen Mueller, Principal Economist at the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The Northern Crops Institute (NCI) recently hosted a new entry in its “Everything Ethanol” webinar series. This monthly webinar program is dedicated to advancing global ethanol market development, and topics that will be explored throughout the series include ethanol marketing factors, global policies, and more. This month’s presentation featured speaker Dr. Steffen Mueller, who serves as the Principal Economist at the Energy Resources Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago and also leads the Bioenergy & Transportation Emissions Group there. He presented on “GHG Life Cycle Emissions & Benefits of U.S. Corn Ethanol” during the webinar.

Mueller began by discussing the latest numbers that his team has observed in regards to ethanol life cycle analysis. Using survey data incorporated using the GREET model (Greenhouse Gas, Regulated Emission, & Energy Use in Technologies) and other information, they examined the carbon intensities of U.S. corn ethanol for 2005-2019. They found that feedstock and ethanol production are two significant contributors to ethanol LCA GHGs. And, they confirmed that since corn grain yield has grown continuously and fertilizer inputs per acre have remained consistent, farming energy use per bushel of corn has been reduced by 14%.

With the increasing interest and adoption of ethanol, GHG emissions of the product are an important consideration as well. Corn ethanol CI’s have decreased over the last 15 years, as have ethanol production-related emissions. The CI in 2019 for corn ethanol showed a 44% reduction compared to the CI for EPA gasoline, and corn farming reductions in GHG emissions have decreased by 15%. Additionally, Mueller stated that, “Displacement of petroleum gasoline by corn ethanol in the transportation fuel market resulted in a total GHG emission reduction benefit of 544 MMT CO2e during the period [of] 2005-2019.” These all point towards the viability of making corn ethanol a potent fuel source.

Using the aromatic substitution of ethanol in gasoline has proven to be a suitable way to address a growing problem with gasoline: high carcinogens. Ethanol’s high level of octane allows for refiners to significantly decrease the aromatic content of gasoline, which results in fewer emissions to the atmosphere and less carcinogen content of the mixture. Since these emissions and carcinogen levels are reduced, the risk of cancer initiation and progression through altered cellular epigenetic landscapes in humans is also reduced.

Of course, ethanol and other biofuels are spearheading the trend towards alternative power sources for vehicles, along with electricity. While they can complement each other, they share numerous differences, too. The GHG savings of electric vehicles depends on the following: 1) the electricity grid region for charging; 2) the dispatch of power plants in the region; and 3) the type of power plants being used. This differs from the GHG savings of ethanol-blended gasoline vehicles, which depend on: 1) high or low inclusion rates of ethanol; 2) whether or not high-octane and low carbon fuel optimized engines are present in the vehicle, and 3) the continued advancement of agricultural and processing technologies as well as carbon capture.

Depending on the country in question, there are differing issues relating to Life Cycle Analysis of ethanol. Mueller focused on Japan to start with. Japan’s biofuels policy includes numerous aspects, such as requirements for volumetric blending of biofuels into gasoline and the mandated use of ETBE (Ethyl-Tert-Butyl Ether) instead of ethanol. Using ETBE instead of ethanol results in a lower GHG carbon intensity than gasoline, but it remains higher than the carbon intensity of ethanol. This carbon intensity of EBTE is a crucial component of Japan’s biofuels policy, and is calculated on an aggregate basis across the whole country. It also requires that all batches of import ethanol – regardless of the country it’s arriving from – must meet a 55% GHG reduction over gasoline, or it will not be accepted.

Data needed for tracing of biofuel shipments.

Brazil’s biofuel policies are similar, but different. Recently, they launched an initiative called the RenovaBio Policy, which dictates how the GHG emissions are calculated for the biofuels being used in the country. Instead of being calculated on an aggregate basis like with Japan, it’s instead calculated using data from each individual shipment. Also, unlike Japan, Brazil’s government requires each shipment to be completely traced back to the specific origin it arrives from. Details such as the location of the field, how many hectares it is, the yield of the field, and other characteristics must be disclosed. And, the disclosure of all farmers involved is also required.

Mueller ended his biofuel policies discussion by visiting Mexico and Taiwan. They, once again, have their own unique biofuel policies. They both use MTBE as an Oxygenate, which significantly increases the GHG emissions of the finished fuels compared to ethanol and ETBE. Also, unlike ethanol and EBTE, as the blend level of the Oxygenate increases in the biofuel mixture, the GHG intensity does as well. With these other two options, the higher the blend level is, the less the GHG intensity is. (Ethanol decreases the most as the blend percentage increases.)

Finally, the sustainability of biofuels and biofuel production is a major focus in the present day. Compliance with these sustainability policies is also paramount, hence the creation and issue of ISCC (International Sustainability & Carbon Certification) licenses to producers in Japan and the European Union. These are to help ensure that biofuel producers adhere to these vital policies when producing their products. It can also be applied on a global scale to different feedstocks and markets, as the graphic shows. Under these policies, for example, biodiverse and carbon-rich areas are protected, therefore land use changes (say, to product biofuels) are not allowed.

The Northern Crops Institute greatly appreciates Dr. Steffen Mueller’s professional input and involvement in this webinar series. At NCI, we continue to fulfill our mission to support regional agriculture and value-added processing by conducting educational and technical programs that expand and maintain domestic and international markets for northern grown crops.

For more information about future webinars offered at NCI, click here.

To view the webinar, click the recording below.

NCI Everything Ethanol Webinar Series | Featuring Dr. Steffen Mueller

© 2024 NORTHERN CROPS INSTITUTE