Analysis of Renewable Jet from Oilseed Feedstocks Replacing Fallow in the U.S. Northern Great Plains

Abstract

Potential land-use change impact has been of concern for producing biomass-derived fuels. To avoid displacing crop production, this study considered north central and western U.S. nonirrigated wheat-growing states for integration of oilseed that fits well into rotations with existing grain crops for renewable jet fuel production. We conducted analyses showing oilseed supply and natural resource impacts based on 2326 9 km × 9 km grid cells in the U.S. Northern Great Plains and further examined the cradle-to-grave environmental impact based on inputs taken from a collection of biogeochemical, hydrological, farmer behavior, and biomass logistics models. Life cycle assessment results from this study show that introducing oilseeds to existing crop rotations for coproduction of food and renewable jet fuel has significant advantages in terms of global-warming potential compared to fossil jet (88 g CO2 eq/MJ), with considerable soil carbon savings from replacing the fallow period. The greenhouse gas emissions can be as low as −235 to −349 g CO2eq per MJ of jet fuel using displacement allocation, and −55 to −107 g CO2eq per MJ jet fuel using energy allocation, over the price points from $400 to $800 per Mg of rapeseed. Total net revenue from this land transition also creates opportunities to boost fuel oilseeds production and farmer incomes.

From Farm to Flight: CoverCress as a Low Carbon Intensity Cash Cover Crop for Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production. A Review of Progress Towards Commercialization

“…FOG include waste greases, animal fats, municipal waste and sludge, algae, food processing oils, and purpose grown oil-bearing seeds and nuts. Several industrial oilseed crops fit the criteria of no direct land-use change (Shi et al, 2019) due to being non-food crops and non-land displacing especially since these are suited for winter production in most regions.…”

A regional inter‐disciplinary partnership focusing on the development of a carinata‐centered bioeconomy

“…Lipid feedstock include waste greases, animal fats, municipal waste and sludge, algae, and purpose‐grown oilseed crops (Gesch et al, 2015; Yilmaz & Atmanli, 2017). Several industrial oilseed crops fit the criteria of no direct land‐use change (Shi et al, 2019; Wicke et al, 2012) due to being non‐food crops and non‐land displacing especially since these are suited for winter production in most regions. Winter oilseeds, like carinata, are second‐generation biofuels that are also an example of temporal intensification in which feedstock crops are integrated into the fallow seasons of existing rotations, thus avoiding the direct and indirect land‐use change (ILUC) impacts associated with agricultural intensification (Fargione et al, 2008) or displacement of existing crop production (Searchinger et al, 2008), respectively.…”

“…They also provide a means of achieving the ecosystem service benefits of cover‐cropping, such as erosion control and reduced nutrient leaching, at a net profit to farmers rather than at a significant cost (Plastina et al, 2018). Winter oilseeds are known to be effective in various rotations to break disease and pest cycles, recycle nutrients in the soil, reduce nutrient leaching, and reduce or eliminate weed problems (Seepaul, Small, et al, 2018; Shi et al, 2019). Biomass returned to the soil with only the seed being harvested is a major differentiating factor between non‐food oilseed crops and other first‐generation (starches and sugars) or certain second‐generation (cellulosic and lignocellulosic) crops.…”

Regional variations in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of canola‐derived jet fuel produced in western Canada

“…(2019) assessed the life cycle GHG emissions of HEFA jet fuel using canola/rapeseed grown in North Dakota, USA, and the US Northern Great Plains, respectively. They examined the impacts of crop price on cropping practices and calculated GHG emissions of 36–51 g CO 2 e/MJ (Ukaew et al., 2016) and −55 to −107 g CO 2 e/MJ (Shi et al., 2019) for canola‐derived jet fuel based on energy allocation. The range of emissions was due to variations in soil carbon changes, which occurred because crop price influenced cropping decisions and subsequently led to carbon emissions or sequestration, depending upon the crop and land/crop management system displaced by canola.…”

“…(2016) and Shi et al. (2019) assessed the life cycle GHG emissions of HEFA jet fuel using canola/rapeseed grown in North Dakota, USA, and the US Northern Great Plains, respectively. They examined the impacts of crop price on cropping practices and calculated GHG emissions of 36–51 g CO 2 e/MJ (Ukaew et al., 2016) and −55 to −107 g CO 2 e/MJ (Shi et al., 2019) for canola‐derived jet fuel based on energy allocation.…”