Life Cycle Analysis Research Natalie  Hunt  

Biofuel  Produc2on  

Regional Energy System

Feedstock  Produc2on  

Feedstock  Storage  &  Transport  

Pre-­‐Processing  &  Bio-­‐refining  

Fuel  Distribu2on  &  End  Use  

Where  are  we?  

Regional Energy System

Feedstock  Produc2on  

Feedstock  Storage  &  Transport  

Pre-­‐Processing  &  Bio-­‐refining  

Fuel  Distribu2on  &  End  Use  

LCA of Carbon !   Level  A  Head  

  Level  B  Head  •  Level  C  Head  

www.glbrc.org  

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Biological Industrial

Spatial Boundaries

Spatial Boundaries

Spatial Boundaries

Spatial Boundaries

Carbon Cycle 101

BIOME-BGC

!   Biome  =  characterized  by  flora,  fauna,  and  climate  

!   BGC  =  BioGeochemical  Cycles  

!   Es2mates  fluxes  and  storage  of:    Energy    Water  

  Carbon    Nitrogen  

Crop Residues 13  

Crop Residue Functions

!   Soil  Organic  MaXer  

!   Soil  Nutrient  Reten2on  !   Water  Reten2on  

!   Microbial  and  Macroinvertebrate  Ac2vity  

!   Carbon  Sequestra2on  

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Residue Removal Impacts

!   Soil  Organic  MaXer  Produc2vity  Loss  

!   Soil  Nutrient      Loss  and  Runoff  

!   Water  Reten2on    Soil  Erosion  

!   Microbial  and  Macroinvertebrate  Ac2vity  

!   Carbon  Sequestra2on  SOC  Decrease  

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Possible Bioenergy Futures

!   <Insert  Soil  C  graph  here>  

Our Bioenergy Future?

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Current Biofuels Policy

!   Federal  Level    Renewable  Fuels  Standards  (RFS2)    Biomass  Crop  Assistance  Program  

  Food  Conserva2on  and  Energy  Act  of  2008  

www.glbrc.org  

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Current Biofuels Policy

!   Wisconsin  Level  •  Ethanol  and  Biodiesel  Fueling  Sta2on  Tax  Credit  •  Alterna2ve  Fuel  Tax  Refund  for  Taxis  •  Alterna2ve  Fuel  Vehicle  •  Office  for  Energy  Independence  25%  by  2025  •  Clean  Energy  Jobs  Act  

www.glbrc.org  

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Indirect Land Use Effects

!   Increased  produc2on  of  biofuel  crops  may  lead  to  expansion  of  corn  acreage,  resul2ng  in  addi2onal  GHG  emissions  from  land  use  change.    Included  in  RFS2    Complex  

www.glbrc.org  

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Alternative Residue Management

!   One  Pass  Harves2ng  !   Par2al  Removal  

!   Alterna2ng  Harvest  !   Intensive  Management    

!   Delayed  Harvest  !   Nutrient  and  Carbon  Recycling  

www.glbrc.org  

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Life Cycle Analysis

!   Pick  your  subject    Cellulosic  ethanol  

!   What  will  you  measure?      GhG,  soil  C,  Nitrogen    

!   Define  your  system  boundary    Beginning  and  End  

!   Produc2on  Inputs  and  Outputs  

Life Cycle Analysis

!   Alloca2on   Mass,  market,  system  expansion,  subs2tu2on  

!   Collect  your  Data    Consistency!  

!   Comparison  

!   Sensi2vity  Analysis