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Switchgrass to Ethanol: A Field to Fuel Approach

Author

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  • Haque, Mohua
  • Epplin, Francis M.

Abstract

The U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandates the production of 16 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuels by 2022. Desirable feedstock properties, biomass to biofuel conversion rate, and investment required in plant and equipment differs depending on which of several competing technologies is used. The objective is to determine the breakeven ethanol price for a cellulosic biorefinery. A comprehensive mathematical programming model that encompasses the chain from land acquisition to ethanol production was constructed and solved. For a capital requirement of $400 million for a 100 million gallons per year plant and a conversion rate of 100 gallons of ethanol per dry ton, the breakeven ethanol price is $1.91 per gallon: $0.20 for land rental and switchgrass production; $0.14 for feedstock harvest; $0.18 for feedstock storage and transportation; $0.75 for biorefinery operation and maintenance; and $0.64 for biorefinery investment. Biomass to ethanol conversion rate and the cost of biorefinery construction, operation, and maintenance are critical issues.

Suggested Citation

  • Haque, Mohua & Epplin, Francis M., 2010. "Switchgrass to Ethanol: A Field to Fuel Approach," 2010 Annual Meeting, July 25-27, 2010, Denver, Colorado 61294, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
  • Handle: RePEc:ags:aaea10:61294
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.61294
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    Cited by:

    1. Haque, Mohua & Biermacher, Jon T. & Guretzky, John A. & Kering, Maru K., 2012. "Does Soil Nutrient and Remobilization Affect Harvest Strategy and Nutrient Management Decisions for Switchgrass Feedstock?," 2012 Annual Meeting, August 12-14, 2012, Seattle, Washington 124985, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    2. Jensen, Kimberly L. & English, Burton C. & Clark, Christopher D. & Menard, R. Jamey, 2011. "Preferences for Marketing Arrangements by Potential Switchgrass Growers," Journal of Cooperatives, NCERA-210, vol. 25, pages 1-28.
    3. Miller, J. Corey & Coble, Keith H., 2011. "Incentives Matter: Assessing Biofuel Policies in the South," Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 43(3), pages 413-421, August.
    4. Carriquiry, Miguel A. & Du, Xiaodong & Timilsina, Govinda R., 2011. "Second generation biofuels: Economics and policies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 4222-4234, July.
    5. Graham von Maltitz & Marna van der Merwe, 2017. "Land and agronomic potential for biofuel production in Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series 085, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    6. Michael von Maltitz & Marna van der Merwe, 2017. "Land and agronomic potential for biofuel production in Southern Africa," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2017-85, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    7. Haankuku, Choolwe & Epplin, Francis M. & Kakani, Gopal V., 2015. "Energy Sugar Beets to Biofuel: Field to Fuel Production System and Cost Estimates," 2015 Annual Meeting, January 31-February 3, 2015, Atlanta, Georgia 196777, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    8. Li, Haoyang & Ross, Brent R., 2014. "Farmers’ Switchgrass Adoption Decision Under A Single-Procurer Market: An Agent Based Simulation Approach," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170502, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

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