Publication Detail
Energy and Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Biofuels: A Framework for Analysis
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UCD-ITS-RR-08-04 January 2008 Research Report Download PDF
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Suggested Citation:
Kammen, Daniel M., Alexander E. Farrell, Richard J. Plevin, Andrew D. Jones, Gregory F. Nemet, Mark A. Delucchi (2008) Energy and Greenhouse Gas Impacts of Biofuels: A Framework for Analysis. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-08-04
In this paper, we review some of the basic energy balance and climate change impact issues
associated with biofuels. For both the basic energy and greenhouse gas balances of producing
and using a range of fuels, and for the increasingly debated and important issues of nongreenhouse
gas impacts such as land, fertilizer, and water use, we conclude that an improved
framework for the analysis and evaluation of biofuels is needed. These new methodologies and
data sets are needed on both physical and socioeconomic aspects of the life-cycle of biofuels.
We detail some of components that could be used to build this methodology and highlight key
areas for future research. We look at the history and potential impacts of building the resource
base for biofuel research, as well as at some of the land-use and socioeconomic impacts of
different feedstock-to-fuel pathways.
associated with biofuels. For both the basic energy and greenhouse gas balances of producing
and using a range of fuels, and for the increasingly debated and important issues of nongreenhouse
gas impacts such as land, fertilizer, and water use, we conclude that an improved
framework for the analysis and evaluation of biofuels is needed. These new methodologies and
data sets are needed on both physical and socioeconomic aspects of the life-cycle of biofuels.
We detail some of components that could be used to build this methodology and highlight key
areas for future research. We look at the history and potential impacts of building the resource
base for biofuel research, as well as at some of the land-use and socioeconomic impacts of
different feedstock-to-fuel pathways.