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Life-cycle greenhouse gas emission and energy use of bioethanol produced from corn stover in China: Current perspectives and future prospectives

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  • Zhao, Lili
  • Ou, Xunmin
  • Chang, Shiyan

Abstract

In this study, a life cycle analysis (LCA) of bioethanol production from corn stover is carried out under Chinese context. Three scenarios were developed and assessed based on current and future technology levels of the ethanol conversion process. Well-to-pump (WTP) and well-to-wheels (WTW) results are presented in this paper via functional units of 1 MJ of ethanol produced, 1 MJ of E100 produced and used, and 1 km of distance driven by a light-duty vehicle on E10 fuel, respectively. It was calculated that for 1 MJ of E100, the WTW Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction relative to gasoline reaches 52%–55%, and the savings of fossil fuel and petroleum fuel reach 72%–76% and 74%–85%, respectively. For 1 MJ of ethanol produced, GHG emissions occurred in ethanol conversion process account for 51%–55%, and the contribution of chemical inputs reaches 36%–37% of the total life cycle GHG emissions. Furthermore, the life cycle results were found to be highly sensitive to allocation methods.

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  • Zhao, Lili & Ou, Xunmin & Chang, Shiyan, 2016. "Life-cycle greenhouse gas emission and energy use of bioethanol produced from corn stover in China: Current perspectives and future prospectives," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P1), pages 303-313.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:115:y:2016:i:p1:p:303-313
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2016.08.046
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    2. Yang Yang & Ji-Qin Ni & Weiqing Bao & Lei Zhao & Guang Hui Xie, 2019. "Potential Reductions in Greenhouse Gas and Fine Particulate Matter Emissions Using Corn Stover for Ethanol Production in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-14, September.
    3. Xiaolin Yang & Meng Li & Huihui Liu & Lantian Ren & Guanghui Xie, 2018. "Technical Feasibility and Comprehensive Sustainability Assessment of Sweet Sorghum for Bioethanol Production in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Wang, Changbo & Zhang, Lixiao & Chang, Yuan & Pang, Mingyue, 2021. "Energy return on investment (EROI) of biomass conversion systems in China: Meta-analysis focused on system boundary unification," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    5. Zhang, Qiuzhuo & Huang, Huiqin & Han, Hui & Qiu, Zhen & Achal, Varenyam, 2017. "Stimulatory effect of in-situ detoxification on bioethanol production by rice straw," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 32-39.
    6. Zhang, Jiaqi & Li, Yu'e & Cai, Andong & Oosterveer, Peter & Greene, Mary & Wang, Bin, 2023. "Greenhouse gas reduction through crop residue-based bioenergy: A meta-analysis of reduction efficiency and abatement costs of various products," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    7. Yang, Yang & Liang, Sai & Yang, Yi & Xie, Guang Hui & Zhao, Wei, 2022. "Spatial disparity of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions from corn straw-based bioenergy production in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    8. Liu, Huacai & Huang, Yanqin & Yuan, Hongyou & Yin, Xiuli & Wu, Chuangzhi, 2018. "Life cycle assessment of biofuels in China: Status and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 301-322.
    9. Li, Junjie & Zhang, Yueling & Yang, Yanli & Zhang, Xiaomei & Wang, Nana & Zheng, Yonghong & Tian, Yajun & Xie, Kechang, 2022. "Life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of ethanol production via coal and its competitors: A comparative study," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    10. Zhao, Yan & Damgaard, Anders & Xu, Yingjie & Liu, Shan & Christensen, Thomas H., 2019. "Bioethanol from corn stover – Global warming footprint of alternative biotechnologies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 247(C), pages 237-253.
    11. Weiwei Wang, 2023. "Integrated Assessment of Economic Supply and Environmental Effects of Biomass Co-Firing in Coal Power Plants: A Case Study of Jiangsu, China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-22, March.
    12. Zongwei Zhang & Keheng Wei & Junqi Li & Zihan Wang, 2022. "Life-Cycle Assessment of Bio-Jet Fuel Production from Waste Cooking Oil via Hydroconversion," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-13, September.
    13. Guo, Feihong & Chen, Jun & He, Yi & Gardy, Jabbar & Sun, Yahui & Jiang, Jingyu & Jiang, Xiaoxiang, 2022. "Upgrading agro-pellets by torrefaction and co-pelletization process using food waste as a pellet binder," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 213-224.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Lignocellulosic biomass; Life cycle analysis; Bioethanol; E10; E100;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • E10 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - General Aggregative Models - - - General

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