. 2007. Assessing the energy potential of agricultural bioenergy pathways for Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 87: 781-792. We assessed agricultural bioenergy pathways using existing and newly developed life cycle energy analyses so as to compare the potential of these pathways to replace fossil fuel in Canada. Energy gains after subtracting life cycle fossil energy inputs (E g ) and the ratio of fuel energy to life cycle fossil energy input (ER) were calculated. Results varied widely, reflecting differences in regional yields and study assumptions. Grasses and coppiced willow processed to electricity and heat exhibited Egs of 29-117 GJ ha -1 yr -1 and ERs of 4-17. These crops processed to lignocellulosic ethanol showed E g s of 22-114 GJ ha -1 yr -1 and ERs of 5-13. Grain ethanol and oilseed biodiesel showed E g s from -15 to 32 GJ ha -1 yr -1 and ERs from 0.8 to 3.7. Assuming 20% of Canada's cleared agricultural land could be dedicated to annual biofuel crops, grain ethanol or oilseed biodiesel could displace up to 10 or 50%, respectively, of national road gasoline or diesel demand. If instead 40% of cleared agricultural land could be dedicated to perennials, the feedstocks could displace up to 52% of road gasoline demand if processed to lignocellulosic ethanol or 100% of utilities' and industries' fossil fuel demand for electricity and steam production. Our analyses showed that a goal of fossil fuel displacement favors the production of perennial crops for electricity and heating.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.