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A conceptual lignocellulosic 'feed+fuel' biorefinery and its application to the linked biofuel and cattle raising industries in Brazil

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  • Mathews, John A.
  • Tan, Hao
  • Moore, Michael J.B.
  • Bell, Geoff

Abstract

It has been argued by some that the substitution of biofuels for gasoline could increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, rather than reduce them. The increase is attributed to the indirect land use change effects of planting new grain and corn crops around the world to replace those progressively being devoted to ethanol production. In this paper, indirect effects are minimised by allowing land to be used for both food and fuel, rather than for one or the other. We present a sugarcane 'feed+fuel' biorefinery, which produces bioethanol and yeast biomass, a source of single-cell protein (SCP), that can be used as a high-protein animal feed supplement. The yeast SCP can partially substitute for grass in the feed of cattle grazing on pasture and thereby potentially release land for increased sugarcane production, with minimal land use change effects. Applying the concept conservatively to the Brazilian ethanol and livestock industry our model demonstrates that it would be technically feasible to raise ethanol production threefold from the current level of 27Â GL to over 92Â GL. The extra ethanol would meet biofuel market mandates in the US without bringing any extra land into agricultural or pastoral use. The analysis demonstrates a viable way to increase biofuel and food production by linking two value chains as called for by industrial ecology studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathews, John A. & Tan, Hao & Moore, Michael J.B. & Bell, Geoff, 2011. "A conceptual lignocellulosic 'feed+fuel' biorefinery and its application to the linked biofuel and cattle raising industries in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(9), pages 4932-4938, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:39:y:2011:i:9:p:4932-4938
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    1. Searchinger, Timothy & Heimlich, Ralph & Houghton, R. A. & Dong, Fengxia & Elobeid, Amani & Fabiosa, Jacinto F. & Tokgoz, Simla & Hayes, Dermot J. & Yu, Hun-Hsiang, 2008. "Use of U.S. Croplands for Biofuels Increases Greenhouse Gases Through Emissions from Land-Use Change," Staff General Research Papers Archive 12881, Iowa State University, Department of Economics.
    2. Özdemir, Enver Doruk & Härdtlein, Marlies & Eltrop, Ludger, 2009. "Land substitution effects of biofuel side products and implications on the land area requirement for EU 2020 biofuel targets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 2986-2996, August.
    3. Goldemberg, José & Coelho, Suani Teixeira & Guardabassi, Patricia, 2008. "The sustainability of ethanol production from sugarcane," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 2086-2097, June.
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    1. Santos, V.E.N. & Ely, R.N. & Szklo, A.S. & Magrini, A., 2016. "Chemicals, electricity and fuels from biorefineries processing Brazil׳s sugarcane bagasse: Production recipes and minimum selling prices," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 1443-1458.
    2. S.J. Ramos & F.W. Ávila & P.F. Boldrin & F.J. Pereira & E.M. Castro & V. Faquin & A.R. Reis & L.R.G. Guilherme, 2012. "Response of brachiaria grass to selenium forms applied in a tropical soil," Plant, Soil and Environment, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 58(11), pages 521-527.
    3. Mayer, Flávio Dias & Feris, Liliana Amaral & Marcilio, Nilson Romeu & Hoffmann, Ronaldo, 2015. "Why small-scale fuel ethanol production in Brazil does not take off?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 687-701.

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