Cellulosic ethanol - the fuel of the future?

posted by DAISY in Renewable Energy

According to new research released last week by the University of Minnesota, we should all be pumping cellulosic ethanol into our fuel tanks.

The study, conducted by the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment, found that cellulosic ethanol - made from plant fibres - is better for the environment than corn-based ethanol, as it emits smaller amounts of fine particulate matter, one of the most harmful components of air pollution.

The study also found that, depending on production methods, cellulosic ethanol's environmental and health costs (19 - 32 cents/gallon) are less than both gasoline (71 cents), and corn-based ethanol (72 cents to $1.45).

The authors point out that other potential advantages of cellulosic biofuels, such as reducing the amount of fertilizer and pesticide runoff into rivers and lakes, may also add to the economic benefit of transitioning to next-generation biofuels.

The latest research stands as a direct contradiction to a 2008 paper by Stanford professor Mark Jacobson, who wrote a paper comparing different alternatives to fossil fuels, in which he argues that cellulosic ethanol actually produces more air pollution, requires more land and causes more damage to wildlife than corn ethanol. In addition, a 2008 study by economics researchers at Iowa State University calculated that the large-scale production of cellulosic ethanol would not be economically viable in the long term.

Compared to energy sources such as wind, solar and wave power, biofuels have been criticized for tackling the problem of fossil fuel dependence with methods that themselves pose risks to the environment, such as biodiversity loss from monoculture, soil erosion, and deforestation to access agricultural land.

The production of corn-based ethanol in particular has attracted criticism from a social perspective - if grain becomes a more valuable commodity, it would raise food prices, to the detriment of poorer consumers.

Criticism of first-generation biofuels, such as corn-based ethanol, has led to the development of a variety of new biofuels, which do not compete with crops. Dubbed "second-generation biofuels", these come from sources such as plant waste, switchgrass, manure and even algae, and include cellulosic ethanol.

One of the reasons why the development of biofuels is so popular is that they can be used in cars and aeroplanes without the adaptation that powering vehicles with electricity generated by wind, wave and solar power would require. Biofuels can also be mixed with regular fuels. Testing of biofuel blends has already been successfully carried out by Japan Airlines (using camelina oil) and Air New Zealand (using jatropha oil), both of which used a 50:50 blend of regular fuel and biofuel.

Last month the US Department of Agriculture approved the first ever loan guarantee to a commercial scale cellulosic ethanol plant.

In the UN's report, "Sustainable Energy: A Framework for Decision Makers", proper caution is recommended to maximise the benefits of developing biofuels, while minimizing potential damage to both the environment and societies worldwide.

Read more of the University of Minnesota report here.
Read three expert opinions on biofuels here.