New Study Shows Dramatic Decrease in

GHG Emissions with Ethanol

A new report completed by a team of researchers from the University of Nebraska and led by Dr. Ken Cassman, evaluated dry-mill ethanol plants that use natural gas.  Such plants account for nearly 90 percent of current production capacity.

This new report published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology stated that “Corn-ethanol biofuel production in the U.S. is expanding rapidly in response to a sudden rise in petroleum prices, supportive federal subsidies…and the adoption of improved technologies to increase energy efficiency and profitability in crop production, ethanol conversion and co-product use.”

The study evaluated the latest corn and ethanol production data to determine the effects that this will have on the environment.  The researchers found that corn-ethanol emits an average 51 percent less greenhouse gas than gasoline, as much as three times the reduction reported in earlier research.

“This research is the first to quantify the impact of recent improvements throughout the corn-ethanolproduction process.  Previous studies, which found ethanol to have only a small edge over gasoline in greenhouse gas emissions, relied on estimates from seven years ago.  More recently built, and more efficient, plants now represent about 60 percent of total ethanol production and will account for 75 percent by the end of 2009.  These newer biorefineries have increased energy efficiency and reduces greenhouse gas emissions through the use of improved technologies,” stated Dr. Ken Cassman.

A close-looped biorefinery with an aerobic digestive system reduced GHG emission by 67% and increases the net energy ratio to 2.2.  Such improved performance moves corn-ethanol much closer to the hypothetical estimates for cellulosic biofuels.

These findings clearly indicate that the recent improvements in crop production, biorefinery efficiency and co-product utilization in corn-ethanol systems have enhanced greenhouse gas emissions reductions, net energy efficiency and life-cycle petroleum use.

To view full study click here