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Corn ethanol worse for the environment than petrol

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Author: | Updated: 22 Apr 2014 12:48

Using corn residues to produce ethanol and other types of biofuel can generate more greenhouse gases than even fossil fuel sources, according to a new study from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

corn field adamr freedigitalphotos.netThe results of the study will come as a massive blow to the Obama administration which has been pushing home-grown fuels, in particular, corn waste-produced ethanol in recent years,  as a way of reducing gas emissions while also promoting the US’ energy independence.

The US government-funded study casts doubt on the administration’s plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the use of cellulosic biofuels. Although such biofuels could be better for the environment in the long term, compared to petrol, they release 7 per cent more greenhouse gases in the early years.

Using computer modelling, the researchers at the university studied the use of corn residue use from 128 million acres of land, across 12 of the country’s key corn-producing States. Based on this, the team found that annual production emissions, averaged over five years, would equal about 100 grams of carbon dioxide per megajoule of energy produced– 62 grams above the 60 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as required by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act.

The study is the first of its kind to try and measure the impact on soil carbon of removing the corn stover – the stalks, leaves and other residues left after the corn harvest – for use as a ‘clean source’ of biofuel, rather than leaving it in the field to help prevent soil erosion and maintain soil quality.

While the cellulosic biofuel production has yet to be extensively commercialised in the USA, several private companies are developing specialised bio-refineries capable of converting tough corn fibres into fuel.

The new study is published in the Journal for Nature Climate Change.

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