Quantifying Environmental Benefits of Biodiesel
Advancing Agricultural Performance® and Environmental Stewardship
February 19, 2015 Ames, Iowa
Quantifying Environmental Benefits of Biodiesel Don Scott National Biodiesel Board
Funded in part by the soybean checkoff
Quantifying Environmental Benefits of Biodiesel
(S&T)2
Don Scott Director of Sustainability National Biodiesel Board
Biodiesel Production Growth (billion gallons/year)
1
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0
Sustainability Benefits of Biodiesel • Increases Energy Security • Supporting Jobs and Economic Benefits • Commitment to Fuel Quality and Performance • Real Environmental Benefits
4
Environmental Benefits of Biodiesel • Cleaner, Safer Diesel Exhaust Emissions • Superior Energy Efficiency (captures solar energy) • Lifecycle Carbon Reduction • Nontoxic & Biodegradable • Reduces Wastewater & Hazardous Waste Production
Liquid Oil is Stored Solar Energy Plants store energy in natural oils. Nature has pre-assembled long carbon chains. Annual crops concentrate energy in seed. Animals store energy in fat. Liquid fuels are energy-dense,
easily transported, and easily stored. Oils release energy easily. Biodiesel stores solar energy. Plants recycle carbon from the air. Bioenergy (H, C, & O) does not mine nutrients (N, P, & K) from soil 6
Biodiesel Captures More Energy than it Consumes 2008: Compared studies of NREL, Pimentel, Argonne
2009: Energy Balance = 4.5:1
1998: 3.2:1 Energy Balance
2011: Energy Balance = 5.5:1
Biodiesel GHG Studies DATE
SOURCE
GHG reduction
1998
USDA/NREL
78%
2008
DOE/Argonne
66-94%
2010
CARB
78%
2010
USEPA
85%
2010
DOE/Argonne
89-122%
2010
GHGenius
86%
2012
Univ. Idaho/USDA
81%
CARB Carbon Intensity Value Changes Old (2009)
New
g CO2/MJ ULSD
98.03
102.82
Soy BD Direct Emissions
21.25
~22
62.0
29.1
83.25
51.1
15
50
ILUC Total Soy % Reduction to Diesel
(S&T)2
“The headline conclusion of the 2008 paper, that corn ethanol’s emissions are much higher than gasoline, has not survived careful scrutiny.” “California’s most recent analysis finds ILUC emissions … about 80% lower than Searchinger’s result.” - Jeremy Martin, Union of Concerned Scientists, Jan 23, 2015
Graph: Wally Tyner Purdue University Oct. 2013
ILUC Overestimated • • • • •
Models have gotten better-More work to be done. Yields increase in response to crop price Double cropping increases in response to price Purdue is updating database from 2004 to 2011 200 million hectares of idle land missing
US Double Cropping
(S&T)2
Other Indirect Effects The EPA RFS2 work showed that there are other indirect GHG effects other than land use change. Reduced methane emissions from rice and livestock. These are mostly savings and have not yet been considered by CARB.
There are indirect effects from producing gasoline and diesel that are not included in the CARB work. These might add about 5 g/MJ to gasoline and diesel fuel. (S&T)2
Summary California is now proposing lower ILUC values for biofuels in the LCFS program. Partly due to work that the NBB has been investing in to improve the models.
The models are still predicting land use change in places where we know it is not happening. The models still need improvement as they are missing 200 million hectares of idle agricultural land.
(S&T)2
Summary
Coordinating Research Council Workshop on Life Cycle Analysis of Transportation Fuels October 2013
“Largely as a consequence of improved LUC modeling, the impact of iLUC on the total life-cycle carbon intensity of most biofuels does not appear to be as large as thought a few years ago”
• ISO/TC 248/WG4 - Indirect Effects: Sustainability Metrics for Bioenergy
Summary- State of Science Consensus Statement
“The conclusion, based on the expertise of, and literature reviewed by, the work group, is that the ‘state of science,’ in terms of evidence‐based research, is inconclusive or contradictory regarding indirect effects of bioenergy.”
Burning Fossil Fuels Pumps Carbon Into the Atmosphere The last century has
reversed millions of years of carbon sequestration.
We are depleting oil
reserves while increasing atmospheric CO2.
Biofuels Recycle Carbon • Plants take CO2 from the air and energy from the sun • Plants store carbon in biomass • Biofuels harness biomass and stored solar energy
Annual GHG Reduction from Biodiesel (million tonnes of CO2e)
20 15 10 5 0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Compared to actual diesel baseline Compared to 2005 diesel baseline
Better For Your Health • Biodiesel is: – Nontoxic: • LD50 =17.4 g/Kg - less toxic than table salt • Skin irritation less than that of 4% soap and water solution – Safer to handle: Flash point above 200 Degrees F, Non-Reactive, Non-Corrosive
Biodiesel reduces impact to water resources
Reduces wastewater by 79% Reduces hazardous waste by 96%
A Model of Sustainability (What traits can make more transportation fuel sustainable)
• Real Environmental Benefits • Increases Energy Security • Supporting Jobs and Economic Benefits • Commitment to Fuel Quality and Performance • Education and Outreach • Responsible Goal Setting • Successful Public Policy • Emphasis on science, quantified analysis, and tackling challenges head-on 22
February 19, 2015 Ames, Iowa
Quantifying Environmental Benefits of Biodiesel Don Scott National Biodiesel Board
Funded in part by the soybean checkoff
Quantifying Environmental Benefits of Biodiesel
(S&T)2
Don Scott Director of Sustainability National Biodiesel Board
Biodiesel Production Growth (billion gallons/year)
1
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 0
Sustainability Benefits of Biodiesel • Increases Energy Security • Supporting Jobs and Economic Benefits • Commitment to Fuel Quality and Performance • Real Environmental Benefits
4
Environmental Benefits of Biodiesel • Cleaner, Safer Diesel Exhaust Emissions • Superior Energy Efficiency (captures solar energy) • Lifecycle Carbon Reduction • Nontoxic & Biodegradable • Reduces Wastewater & Hazardous Waste Production
Liquid Oil is Stored Solar Energy Plants store energy in natural oils. Nature has pre-assembled long carbon chains. Annual crops concentrate energy in seed. Animals store energy in fat. Liquid fuels are energy-dense,
easily transported, and easily stored. Oils release energy easily. Biodiesel stores solar energy. Plants recycle carbon from the air. Bioenergy (H, C, & O) does not mine nutrients (N, P, & K) from soil 6
Biodiesel Captures More Energy than it Consumes 2008: Compared studies of NREL, Pimentel, Argonne
2009: Energy Balance = 4.5:1
1998: 3.2:1 Energy Balance
2011: Energy Balance = 5.5:1
Biodiesel GHG Studies DATE
SOURCE
GHG reduction
1998
USDA/NREL
78%
2008
DOE/Argonne
66-94%
2010
CARB
78%
2010
USEPA
85%
2010
DOE/Argonne
89-122%
2010
GHGenius
86%
2012
Univ. Idaho/USDA
81%
CARB Carbon Intensity Value Changes Old (2009)
New
g CO2/MJ ULSD
98.03
102.82
Soy BD Direct Emissions
21.25
~22
62.0
29.1
83.25
51.1
15
50
ILUC Total Soy % Reduction to Diesel
(S&T)2
“The headline conclusion of the 2008 paper, that corn ethanol’s emissions are much higher than gasoline, has not survived careful scrutiny.” “California’s most recent analysis finds ILUC emissions … about 80% lower than Searchinger’s result.” - Jeremy Martin, Union of Concerned Scientists, Jan 23, 2015
Graph: Wally Tyner Purdue University Oct. 2013
ILUC Overestimated • • • • •
Models have gotten better-More work to be done. Yields increase in response to crop price Double cropping increases in response to price Purdue is updating database from 2004 to 2011 200 million hectares of idle land missing
US Double Cropping
(S&T)2
Other Indirect Effects The EPA RFS2 work showed that there are other indirect GHG effects other than land use change. Reduced methane emissions from rice and livestock. These are mostly savings and have not yet been considered by CARB.
There are indirect effects from producing gasoline and diesel that are not included in the CARB work. These might add about 5 g/MJ to gasoline and diesel fuel. (S&T)2
Summary California is now proposing lower ILUC values for biofuels in the LCFS program. Partly due to work that the NBB has been investing in to improve the models.
The models are still predicting land use change in places where we know it is not happening. The models still need improvement as they are missing 200 million hectares of idle agricultural land.
(S&T)2
Summary
Coordinating Research Council Workshop on Life Cycle Analysis of Transportation Fuels October 2013
“Largely as a consequence of improved LUC modeling, the impact of iLUC on the total life-cycle carbon intensity of most biofuels does not appear to be as large as thought a few years ago”
• ISO/TC 248/WG4 - Indirect Effects: Sustainability Metrics for Bioenergy
Summary- State of Science Consensus Statement
“The conclusion, based on the expertise of, and literature reviewed by, the work group, is that the ‘state of science,’ in terms of evidence‐based research, is inconclusive or contradictory regarding indirect effects of bioenergy.”
Burning Fossil Fuels Pumps Carbon Into the Atmosphere The last century has
reversed millions of years of carbon sequestration.
We are depleting oil
reserves while increasing atmospheric CO2.
Biofuels Recycle Carbon • Plants take CO2 from the air and energy from the sun • Plants store carbon in biomass • Biofuels harness biomass and stored solar energy
Annual GHG Reduction from Biodiesel (million tonnes of CO2e)
20 15 10 5 0
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Compared to actual diesel baseline Compared to 2005 diesel baseline
Better For Your Health • Biodiesel is: – Nontoxic: • LD50 =17.4 g/Kg - less toxic than table salt • Skin irritation less than that of 4% soap and water solution – Safer to handle: Flash point above 200 Degrees F, Non-Reactive, Non-Corrosive
Biodiesel reduces impact to water resources
Reduces wastewater by 79% Reduces hazardous waste by 96%
A Model of Sustainability (What traits can make more transportation fuel sustainable)
• Real Environmental Benefits • Increases Energy Security • Supporting Jobs and Economic Benefits • Commitment to Fuel Quality and Performance • Education and Outreach • Responsible Goal Setting • Successful Public Policy • Emphasis on science, quantified analysis, and tackling challenges head-on 22
