By Andi Anderson
Researchers have conducted an extensive study to determine the best bioenergy crops for producing sustainable aviation fuels in different regions of the U.S.
The study analyzed the financial and environmental benefits of four biofuel crops: corn stover, energy sorghum, miscanthus, and switchgrass. Each of these crops performed best in specific regions of the rainfed United States, offering tailored solutions for growers and policymakers.
The U.S. consumes 23 billion gallons of jet fuel annually, with aviation fuel contributing approximately 13% of domestic transportation carbon dioxide emissions. Currently, only a few million gallons of sustainable aviation fuels are produced in the U.S.
However, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge aims to expand production to 3 billion gallons by 2030 and 35 billion gallons by 2050, with a goal of reducing life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by 50%.
The research, led by Madhu Khanna, a professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and Xinxin Fan, a postdoctoral researcher, focused on identifying the feedstocks with the lowest break-even price, lowest carbon intensity, and highest biomass production per unit of land.
These factors are crucial in determining the most suitable crops for different regions and achieving policy goals like reducing production costs, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and building soil carbon stocks.
The study area covered most of the continental U.S. from the Dakotas to Texas and eastward, divided into 1.5-mile-square plots. Four zones were analyzed: the Great Plains, Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast.
The researchers modeled various growing conditions, carbon emissions, and costs associated with each feedstock, including transportation to biorefineries.
The findings revealed that the optimal feedstock varies by location and policy goals. Miscanthus was found to be most cost-effective in the Midwest, switchgrass in the South, and energy sorghum in a small region of the Great Plains.
Corn stover had the lowest break-even price but the highest cost of greenhouse gas abatement due to its high carbon intensity. Miscanthus and switchgrass, while more expensive to produce, offer significant greenhouse gas reductions by increasing soil carbon stores.
Ultimately, the study concludes that either carbon prices need to rise or the cost of producing sustainable aviation fuels must fall to make them economically attractive.
The Department of Energy Office of Science and Office of Environmental Research supported this study, highlighting the importance of optimizing bioenergy crop selection to achieve national sustainability goals.
Photo Credit: vista-mipan
Categories: Illinois, Energy