Well-to-wheels energy use and greenhouse gas emissions of ethanol from corn, sugarcane and cellulosic biomass for US use

Michael Wang, Jeongwoo Han, Jennifer Marie Dunn, Hao Cai, Amgad Elgowainy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapter

114 Scopus citations

Abstract

Globally, biofuels are being promoted for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, enhancing the domestic energy security of individual countries and promoting rural economic development. In a carbon-constrained world, liquid transportation fuels from renewable carbon sources can play an important role in reducing GHG emissions from the transportation sector (IEA 2012). At present, the two major biofuels produced worldwide are (1) ethanol from fermentation of sugars primarily in corn starch and sugarcane and (2) biodiesel from transesterification of vegetable oils, with ethanol accounting for the majority of current biofuel production. Figure 1 shows the growth of annual ethanol production between 1981 and 2011 in the US and Brazil, the two dominant ethanol-producing countries.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationEfficiency and Sustainability in Biofuel Production
Subtitle of host publicationEnvironmental and Land-Use Research
PublisherApple Academic Press
Pages249-280
Number of pages32
ISBN (Electronic)9781498728867
ISBN (Print)9781771881319
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering
  • General Chemical Engineering
  • General Environmental Science

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