Would the use of crop residues that are currently wasted reduce biomass costs?
Crop residues are an essential part of the agricultural cycle, adding nutrients to the soil and maintaining the soil’s organic matter, biota, and water-holding capacity. Removing these residues irreparably damages the soil. Is turning biomass into liquid fuels a practical form of renewables? Ethanol is the most common form of biomass-to-liquids production in the U.S. It results in a net energy loss. According to Pimentel et al., “The total fossil energy expended to produce 1 liter of ethanol from corn is 10,200 kcal, but note that 1 liter of ethanol has an energy value of only 5,130 kcal.” (“Renewable Energy: Economic and Environmental Issues,” BioScience, Sept. 1994) The same source notes that “although ethanol has been advertised as reducing air pollution when mixed with gasoline or burned as the only fuel, there is no reduction when the entire production system is considered.” In conclusion, “ethanol produced from corn clearly is not a renewable energy source. Its production adds to
