THE NET ENERGY OF BIOFUELS

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "THE NET ENERGY OF BIOFUELS"

Prosper Carroll
3 years ago
Views:

1 THE NET ENERGY OF BIOFUELS Dario Cordisco Melachroini Makrelli Miriam Peces EPROBIO 16th June 2011

2 Index Introduction Net Energy EROI FER PRR Examples Biodiesel from soybean Conclusions

3 INTRODUCTION Bioenergy: Any kind of energy from natural resources. Biofuel: Renewable energy source produced from natural materials (biomass). Biofuels 1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation 4th generation 3

4 Generation Feedstocks Examples 1st generation 2nd generation 3rd generation 4th generation Sugar, wheat, starch, animal fat Non-food crops, corn, wood, solid waste Algae Vegetable oil, biodiesel Bioalcohols, biodiesel, biosyngas, biogas. Bioalcohols,bio-oil, biohydrogen, Vegetable oil, biodiesel. Biogasoline Demirbas et al.,

5 PROS AND CONS Global Bioenergy Partnership,

6 Are biofuels convenient in terms of energy? 6

7 NET ENERGY BALANCE Net energy balance (NEB): Technique for evaluating the amount of energy delivered to society by a technology to the total energy required to obtain it. NEB = E supplied - E required 7

8 Energy Return on Investment (EROI): tool of net energy analysis to compare the amount of energy delivered by a fuel. E by fuel supplied EROI = E required to obtain fuel EROI > 1 Advantageous EROI < 1 Disadvantageous Charles A.S.,

9 Fossil Energy Ratio (FER): the energy output of the final biofuel product to the fossil energy required to produce the biofuel. FER = E renewable fuel output E fossil fuel input 6 5 Fossil energy ratio Cellulosic ethanol biorefinery Corn ethanol Gasoline Electricity Sheehan et al.,

10 Petroleum Replacement Ratio (PRR): Reflects the degree of reliance on petroleum for a given energy carrier PRR = Liquid fuels delivered to user Petroleum energy used Petroleum replacement ratio Cellulosic ethanol biorefinery Corn ethanol Gasoline Farell et al.,

11 Biodiesel from soybean Agriculture EXAMPLES Input Application rate Manufacture energy Total energy use kg ha 1 MJ kg 1 MJ ha 1 MJ L 1a Seeds Nitrogen Phosphorus Potassium Sulfur Herbicide Diesel fuel Agricultural capital Total

12 Machinery Shipping weight Production energy Soybean Mg GJ MJ ha 1 yr 1 MJ L 1 Tractor (4WD) Tractor (MFWD) Sprayer (27.4 m) Swather Combine Pick-up header Flex header Semi-tractor Hoe drill (13.7 m) Chisel plow (11.6 m) Field cultivator (13.7 m) Bins (3 ) Auger Agriculture buildings Total

13 Oil extraction Inputs Energy input Canola Soybean Canola Soybean MJ Mg 1 MJ L 1 MJ ha 1 Crushing Feedstock transfer Process heat Conditioning Total Transesterification Inputs Biodiesel processing Process heat Agitation Methanol Catalyst Washing/dryin g Energy input MJ L 1 Soybean MJ ha Biodiesel total

14 Life cycle inventory Total (BTU) Bio-diesel fraction (BTU) Agriculture 26,769 4,544 Soybean transport 4, Soybean crushing 23,151 3,930 Biodiesel conversion 18,772 15,467 Biodiesel transport 1,027 1,027 Total Energy Input for Biodiesel Adjusted for Coproducts 25,696 Biodiesel Total Energy Output Net Energy Value EROI FER 117,093 91,397 2,05 4,56 14

15 Invest or not to invest on biofuels? 15

16 CONCLUSIONS Main goal reduce energy costs EROI it s very general To make biofuels attractive FER and PRR EROI not enough to determine sustainability of the whole process being necessary to study other indicators as well as environmental and economic aspects 16

17 Thank you for your attention

From Biomass. NREL Leads the Way. to Biofuels

From Biomass. NREL Leads the Way. to Biofuels From Biomass NREL Leads the Way to Biofuels The Wide World of Biofuels Fuel Source Benefits Maturity Grain/Sugar Ethanol Biodiesel Corn, sorghum, and sugarcane Vegetable oils, fats, and greases Produces