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Cumulative Energy and Global Warming Impact from the Production of Biomass for Biobased Products

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  • Seungdo Kim
  • Bruce E. Dale

Abstract

The cumulative energy and global warming impacts associated with producing corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and switchgrass and transporting these crops to a central crop processing facility (called a “biorefinery”) are estimated. The agricultural inputs for each crop are collected from seven states in the United States: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. The cumulative energy requirement for producing and transporting these crops is 1.99 to 2.66 megajoules/kilo‐gram (MJ/kg) for corn, 1.98 to 2.04 MJ/kg for soybeans, 1.24 MJ/kg for alfalfa, and 0.97 to 1.34 MJ/kg for switchgrass. The global warming impact associated with producing biomass is 246 to 286 grams (g) CO2 equivalent/kg for corn, 159 to 163gCO2 equivalent/kg for soybeans, 89 g CO2 equivalent/ kg for alfalfa, and 124 to 147 g CO2 equivalent/kg for switch‐grass. The detailed agricultural data are used to assess previous controversies over the energy balance of bioethanol and, in light of the ongoing debates on this topic, provide a needed foundation for future life‐cycle assessments.

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  • Seungdo Kim & Bruce E. Dale, 2003. "Cumulative Energy and Global Warming Impact from the Production of Biomass for Biobased Products," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 7(3‐4), pages 147-162, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:7:y:2003:i:3-4:p:147-162
    DOI: 10.1162/108819803323059442
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert S. Frazier & Enze Jin & Ajay Kumar, 2015. "Life Cycle Assessment of Biochar versus Metal Catalysts Used in Syngas Cleaning," Energies, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-24, January.
    2. Devin Moeller & Heidi L. Sieverding & James J. Stone, 2017. "Comparative Farm-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Oilseed Feedstocks in the Northern Great Plains," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Kiyotaka Masuda, 2016. "Optimization Model for Mitigating Global Warming at the Farm Scale: An Application to Japanese Rice Farms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-17, June.
    4. Maraseni, Tek Narayan & Mushtaq, Shahbaz & Hafeez, Mohsin & Maroulis, Jerry, 2010. "Greenhouse gas implications of water reuse in the Upper Pumpanga River Integrated Irrigation System, Philippines," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 97(3), pages 382-388, March.
    5. Nalley, Lanier & Popp, Michael & Niederman, Zara, 2013. "Embedded Seed Technology and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions: A Meta-Analysis," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Southern Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 45, pages 1-13, August.
    6. Parajuli, Ranjan & Dalgaard, Tommy & Jørgensen, Uffe & Adamsen, Anders Peter S. & Knudsen, Marie Trydeman & Birkved, Morten & Gylling, Morten & Schjørring, Jan Kofod, 2015. "Biorefining in the prevailing energy and materials crisis: a review of sustainable pathways for biorefinery value chains and sustainability assessment methodologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 244-263.
    7. Nalley, Lanier & Popp, Michael & Niederman, Z. & Thompson, Jada, 2012. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions Labeling for Produce: The Case of Biotech and Conventional Sweet Corn," Journal of Food Distribution Research, Food Distribution Research Society, vol. 43(3), November.

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