A Strong Energy Portfolio For A Strong America: For More Information Contact: Principal Investigator

An industry-standard-setting total lifecycle model has been developed that allows researchers to evaluate various vehicle and fuel
combinations with a consistent methodology. The Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model was developed by Dr. Michael Wang, Argonne National Laboratorys Center for Transportation Research, with support from the U.S. Department of Energys (DOEs) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
Solar Energy
The peer-reviewed model has laid to rest some long-held misunderstandings about ethanol (EtOH) and its important role in reducing petroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions. In terms of key energy and environmental benefits, Argonnes GREET shows that cornstarch ethanol clearly outpaces petroleum-based fuels, and that tomorrows cellulose-based ethanol would do even better. According to GREETs calculations, the fossil energy input per unit of ethanol is lower 0.78 million British thermal units (Btu) of fossil energy consumed for each 1 million Btu of ethanol deliveredcompared to 1.23 million Btu of fossil energy consumed for each 1 million Btu of gasoline delivered (see Figure 1). Some confusion arises because a portion of the total (not fossil or petroleum) energy input in the ethanol cycle is the free solar energy that ends up in the corn. Since the solar energy is free, renewable, and environmentally benign, it should not be taken into account in the energy balance calculations. While the total (includes solar) energy needed to produce a unit of ethanol is more than the total energy needed to produce a unit of gasoline, ethanol is superior when calculating either (1) the amount of fossil energy needed or (2) the amount of petroleum energy needed (see GREET results in Figure 2).
Producing Ethanol (EtOH) from Corn: 0.78 million Btu Fossil Energy Input Fertilizer Production
Producing Gasoline from Petroleum: 1.23 million Btu Fossil Energy Input
Petroleum
Corn Farming
Fertilizers Natural Gas Liquefied Petroleum Gas Electricity Diesel Fuel
Petroleum Recovery
Natural Gas
Diesel Fuel Natural Gas Electricity
Diesel
Petroleum Transportation
Corn Transportation
Diesel Fuel
Fuel Residual Oil Natural Gas Residual Oil Electricity Natural Gas
EtOH Transportation
EtOH Production
Coal Natural Gas Electricity
Electricity Diesel Fuel
Gasoline Transportation
Petroleum Refining
Refinery Gas Natural Gas Coal Electricity
Animal Feeds 1 million Btu of EtOH at Refueling Stations 1 million Btu of Gasoline at Refueling Stations Other Petroleum Products
Figure 1: Fossil energy inputs used to produce and deliver a million Btu of EtOH and gasoline to a refueling station.
Moreover, the use of ethanol reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. On a per-gallon basis, GREET shows that corn ethanol could reduce GHG emissions by 18% to 28%; cellulosic ethanol offers an even greater benefit, with an 87% reduction in GHG emissions (see Figure 3). However, if coal is used in EtOH plants, corn EtOH may not have GHG reduction benefits.
Net Energy Value (Btu/gallon)
A range of studies has looked at the fossil energy required to produce ethanol (see Figure 4). Studies above the zero line (including GREET) found that ethanol has a positive net fossil energy value (that is, less fossil energy is used to produce ethanol than the energy that is available in ethanol). Studies below the zero line found that ethanol has a negative fossil energy value. Most of the studies and, more importantly, the preponderance of the recent studies, show that ethanol has a positive net fossil energy value.
60,000 40,000 20,000 0

Ho Agri. & Agri Food Canada Wang et al. Graboski NR Canada Shapouri et al. Kim & Dale Shapouri et al. Wang Delucchi Kim & Dale Hill Farrell Wang
Lorenz & Morris Marland & Turnollow
Total Btu Spent for One Btu Available at Fuel Pumps

2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 Corn EtOH: Current Corn EtOH: Current Corn EtOH: Current Corn EtOH: Coal Corn EtOH: Coal Corn EtOH: Coal Corn EtOH: NG Corn EtOH: NG Corn EtOH: NG Cell. EtOH Cell. EtOH Cell. EtOH Gasoline Gasoline Gasoline Btu for Fuel Production Btu in Fuel
-20,000 -40,000 -60,000 -80,000 -100,000 -120,000
Weinblatt et al.
Keeney & DeLuca Pimentel Pimentel
Pimentel Pimentel & Patzek
Patzek
Chambers et al.
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2007
Total Energy
Fossil Energy
Petroleum
Energy balance here is defined as Btu content in a gallon of ethanol minus fossil energy used to produce a gallon of ethanol
Figure 4: The majority of corn ethanol/fossil energy studies (especially more recent studies) show that corn ethanol has a positive net fossil energy value.
Figure 2: The energy benefits of fuel ethanol result from (1) reduced fossil energy and petroleum use in production and (2) the absence of fossil and petroleum content in the final product.
Replacement of a gallon of a gasoline with equivalent EtOH

Corn EtOH: Coal
CONCLUSION
Corn EtOH: Current
Corn EtOH: NG
Cell. EtOH 10% -10% -30% -50% -70% -90%
Figure 3: Ethanol generally produces fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Guide GREETs lifecycle analysis shows that any type of fuel to abb reviati ons: ethanol can help to reduce petroleum use in the Btu British Cell. therm transportation sector. An investigation of the energy al unit Cellulo EtOH s sic Ethano balance alone would be less meaningful because it does GHG l Green NG ho not provide comparative results between ethanol and the Natura use gas l gas energy products it replaces (i.e., gasoline). Even the fossil energy balance, which is favorable, does not show the critical petroleum savings benefits of ethanol which may be the greatest energy concern. In addition, while corn-based ethanol can achieve moderate reductions in GHG emissions, cellulosic ethanol (the focus of DOE/EERE research) can produce much greater energy and GHG benefits.
A Strong Energy Portfolio for a Strong America

Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy independence for America. Working with a wide array of state, community, industry, and university partners, the U.S. Department of Energys Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in a diverse portfolio of energy technologies. For more information contact: EERE Information Center 1-877-EERE-INF (1-877-337-3463) www.eere.energy.gov Principal Investigator: Michael Wang, Ph.D. Center for Transportation Research/Argonne National Laboratory 630-252-2819 mqwang@anl.gov
Second revised edition, March 2007
Publishing and support services provided by Argonne National Laboratorys Technical Services Division.

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An industry-standard-setting total lifecycle model has been developed that allows researchers to evaluate various vehicle and fuel

Diesel Fuel Natural Gas Electricity

Electricity Diesel Fuel

Net Energy Value (Btu/gallon)

60,000 40,000 20,000 0

Lorenz & Morris Marland & Turnollow

Total Btu Spent for One Btu Available at Fuel Pumps

-20,000 -40,000 -60,000 -80,000 -100,000 -120,000

Keeney & DeLuca Pimentel Pimentel

Pimentel Pimentel & Patzek

Replacement of a gallon of a gasoline with equivalent EtOH

Corn EtOH: Current

Cell. EtOH 10% -10% -30% -50% -70% -90%

Figure 3: Ethanol generally produces fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

A Strong Energy Portfolio for a Strong America

Second revised edition, March 2007

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