Ethanol Production: Energy and Economic Issues Related to U.S. and Brazilian Sugarcane |
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Authors: | David Pimentel Tad Patzek |
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Institution: | (1) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA;(2) Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA |
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Abstract: | For a thorough and up-to-date evaluation of all the fossil energy costs of ethanol production from sugarcane in both the U.S.
and Brazil, every energy input in the biomass production and ultimate conversion process must be included. In this study,
more than 12 energy inputs in average U.S. and Brazilian sugarcane production are evaluated. Then in the fermentation/distillation
operation, nine more fossil fuel inputs are identified and included. Some energy and economic credits are given for the bagasse
to reduce the energy inputs required for steam and electricity. Based on all the fossil energy inputs in U.S. sugarcane conversion
process, a total of 1.12 kcal of ethanol is produced per 1 kcal of fossil energy expended. In Brazil a total of 1.38 kcal
of ethanol is produced per 1 kcal of fossil energy expended. Some pro-ethanol investigators have overlooked various energy
inputs in U.S. and Brazilian sugarcane production, including farm labor, farm machinery, processing machinery, and others.
In other studies, unrealistic low energy costs were attributed to such energy inputs, as nitrogen fertilizer, insecticides,
and herbicides. Both the U.S. and Brazil heavily subsidize ethanol production. Thus billions of dollars are invested in subsidies
and this significantly increases the costs to the consumers. The environmental costs associated with producing ethanol in
the U.S. and Brazil are significant but have been generally overlooked. The negative environmental impacts on the availability
of cropland and freshwater, as well as on air pollution and public health, have yet to be carefully assessed. These environmental
costs in terms of energy and economics should be calculated and included in future ethanol analyses so that sound assessments
can be made. In addition, the production of ethanol in the U.S. and Brazil further confirms that the mission of converting
biomass into ethanol will not replace oil. This mission is impossible. General concern has been expressed about taking food
crops to produce ethanol for burning in automobiles instead of using these crops as food for the many malnourished people
in the world. The World Health Organization reports that more than 3.7 billion humans are currently malnourished in the world—the
largest number of malnourished ever in history. |
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Keywords: | Converting biomass energy costs environmental costs subsidization |
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