Transcript Corn Ethanol (Biofuel) is not as “Green” as Believed and it is

Corn Ethanol (Biofuel) is not as “Green” as
Believed and it is Detrimental to the
Environment as well as the Economy
By: Saeger Morrison
Science and Technology
PhD. Nora Demers
Presented March 10, 2009
What is Biofuel?
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Solid, Liquid or Gas Fuel
Derived from Biomass
Carbon Source
Replenished Over a Short Period of Time
What is Corn Ethanol?
 Produced by Fermentation, Chemical
processing and Distillation of Corn
 Is the most common type of ethanol in
the United States
 C 2H 6O
History of Oil and
Biofuels
 Up to 1 million years ago – Human
Control of Fire
 2000 B.C. to 625 B.C – First use of an Oil
Based Product
 1896 – First Car developed to run on
100% Ethanol
 1970’s – Clean Air Act and Oil Embargo
 2009 - First Jet Travel with Biofuel
Oil Prices / Barrel from
1861 - 2006
Why is Corn Ethanol a
Terrible Fuel Source for the
Future
Extremely Inefficient Production
 Natural gas based fertilizers /
Insecticides
 Farm equipment
 Transformation from corn
 Transportation
Cost
Cost Item
Detail
$/acre
$/bushel
Soil tillage
Conservation tillage
20
0.17
Seed
Rate of 28,000/acre
42
0.37
10
0.09
nitrogen
44
0.38
ammonium phosphate
11
0.10
potash
9
0.08
application
6
0.05
materials
25
0.22
application
6
0.05
seed treatment
1
0.01
Harvesting
34
0.30
Trucking
15
0.13
Drying
35
0.30
Crop insurance
10
0.09
Interest on operating
8
0.07
Other costs
10
0.09
Land costs (rent)
90
0.78
Without land cost
286
2.49
Land cost included
376
3.28
Fuel Produced
328gal.
Planting
Fertilizer
Herbicide
Other pesticides
Total costs
Amount of
Think Your Saving Money?
Research
Fuel type
MJ/L
MJ/kg
octane
number
Dry wood (20% moisture)
~19.5
Methanol
17.9
19.9
123
Ethanol
23.5
31.3
129
(85% ethanol, 15%
gasoline)
25.2
33.2
105
Liquefied natural gas
25.3
~55
26.8
50
33.5
46.8
(90% gasoline + 10%
ethanol)
33.7
47.1
93/94
Regular Gasoline
34.8
44.4
min. 91
E85
Autogas (LPG)
(60% Propane + 40%
Butane)
Aviation gasoline
(high-octane gasoline, not
jet fuel)
Gasohol
Premium Gasoline
max. 95
Diesel
38.6
45.4
Charcoal, extruded
50
23
25
Dead Zones (Gulf of Mexico)
Still Pollutes and Releases CO2
Reduces fossil fuel imports
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Almost $49.1 billion in annual defense
The loss of 828,400 jobs in the U.S. economy
The loss of $159.9 billion in Gross National Product (GNP) annually
The loss of $13.4 billion in federal and state revenues annually
The total economic penalties for importing oil range from $297.2 to $304.9
billion annually
Major Problem – Can not eliminate fossil fuel imports
If all the US corn production was diverted to ethanol it would yield the
equivalent of only 16.77 billion gallons of gasoline as compared to the 140
billion gallons consumed per year.
Not Enough Fuel
Government’s Role
Subsidies – in 2006 was $7 billion for 4.9
billion gallons of Ethanol
 The Energy Policy Act of 2005
 In May 2007, President Bush issued an
executive order to cut greenhouse gas
emissions from motor vehicles.
Future of Ethanol
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"We believe that World production levels could reach hundreds of
billions of gallons per year by 2012”
 The Renewable Fuels Association counts 113 U.S. ethanol
distilleries in operation and another 78 under construction.
 Amount of production set by the U.S. for 2012 is 7.5 billion gallons
 Amount of production that is proposed for 2017 in the United
States is 35 billion gallons per year
Hydrogen the Real “Future Fuel”
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(1) the cars are completely emission-free
(2) the fuel cells have no moving parts
(3) hydrogen is renewable and abundant
(4) the cars are compatible with cold weather
(5) the fuel cells are compact and lightweight--not overly bulky or
heavy
(6) the cars are about 3 times as efficient as gasoline-powered
cars
(7) the cars will have incredible mile ranges
(8) the tanks can be refueled quickly
(9) hydrogen is safe, has been tested rigorously for use in
vehicles, and is being used in many vehicles already.
Hydrogen Cars