Posted by Paul on August 22, 2013 at 06:52:34 from (66.60.223.232):
In Reply to: Re: ethanol question posted by RodInNS on August 22, 2013 at 05:06:46:
Many studies have been done, with modern ethanol plants using 2.7 to 3 gallons produced per bu of corn, with the 17 lbs of high protein feed created, with the small amount of corn oil produced, accounting for everything from seed, fertilizer, harvest, processing, we return about 30% more energy than is consumed.
While that is not an earth shattering wow number, it is a positive net gain.
If we use 10% ethanol for our fuel, we are creating about 3% more energy than without ethanol.
My understanding is that lower value, 85 octane gasoline is being blended with ethanol, this lower octane gas is cheaper to make, you get a little more per barrel of crude, so ethanol 'gains' you a little bit more that way as well?
There was one old study heavily promoted by Big Oil, where they used a 2.3 conversion rate, and subtracted the energy the sunshine gave to the corn, and they assumed the left over protein was land filled and had no value as livestock feed. Well, yes, -that- study concluded there was a net loss in energy.
Hmmm.
I think if you look into the issue, you will find there actually is a small, but useful net energy gain by using ethanol.
I would welcome looking into it deeper, but this becomes one of those hot potato issues and I don't want to run down that path too far. Could be worth looking into, if you wish to tho.
Open minds.
Sometime in the future, we will find other fuels to move us around, whether some battery breakthrough, or some way of changing lp/natural gas into a stable cheap fuel, or we develop transporter technology, I do not think ethanol is the answer to out transportation.
I do believe it is a useful, small portion of getting us from here to there, and does provide us consumers energy, economic, and air quality benefits. Perhaps all on the small scale, but still and all we get 3 benefits from ethanol today.
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