Energy and Greenhouse Impacts of Biofuels: A Framework for Analysis
Author: Daniel M. Kammen, Alexander E. Farrell, Richard J. Plevin, Andrew D. Jones, Gregory F. Nemet, Mark A. Delucchi
Author Affiliation: UC Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center
Submitted: Mon, 11/03/2008 - 18:49
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Copyright Status: Not disclosed Description:
In this paper, we review some of the basic energy balance and climate change
impact issues associated with biofuels. For both the basic energy and greenhouse
gas balances of producing and using a range of fuels, and for the increasingly
debated and important issues of nongreenhouse gas impacts such as land, fertilizer,
and water use, we conclude that an improved framework for the analysis
and evaluation of biofuels is needed. These new methodologies and data sets are
needed on both physical and socioeconomic aspects of the life-cycle of biofuels.
We detail some of components that could be used to build this methodology and
highlight key areas for future research. We look at the history and potential
impacts of building the resource base for biofuel research, as well as at some of
the land-use and socioeconomic impacts of different feedstock-to-fuel pathways. Login to post comments
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