Friends,

I would like to suggest we ask if a policy of replacing liquid fossil fuels for transportation with ANY form of ethanol makes any sense at all? Does this strategy yield the greatest degree of energy independence?

Consider, even cellulosic ethanol at 5:1 net energy will be burned in an I.C.E. with only 30% efficiency. As a result, the true net energy of the ethanol I.C.E. system is a mere 1.5:1

Given that buildings are the source of 48% of climate changing gases, perhaps we should look at a displacement strategy. That is, if we use solid biofuels for space conditioning we can re-allocate the displaced fossil fuels to transportation.

Our grass-based pellet fuels have a net energy of 14:1 and are combusted in systems with at least an 83% efficiency [USDA FS & PFI data]. As a result, the true net energy of grass fueled space conditioning is on the order of 11.6:1. This is a 673% increase in net energy of the system compared to ethanol.

Solid biomass energy in general offers attractive [net energy] ratios.
grass energy in particular, with a net energy of 14:1 in the pellet
state, yields, after combustion in an industrial system with 83%
efficiency [USDA & PFI data] a systems net energy of 11.6:1. No
liquid biofuel can come close to this systems net energy factor. Thus
we anticipate a significant future role for herbaceous energy crops in
our nation’s drive to energy independence and energy security.
Evidence of this can be found in the new farm bill with its attention
to incentives for growing grass as a dedicated energy crop.

Clearly, it is far better to BURN grass than turn it into ethanol.
7.7X better. All of the heating oil displaced by grass can then be
used to reduce oil imports required by transportation! This is a
faster, better, cheaper solution with a whole lot less entropy than
the ethanol route. N.H.’s own [Charlie Bass] new this years ago.

Friends,

This is a very [interesting site from Australia].

I particluarly like their tag line:

The best way to combat Global Warming short term is to reward farmers for cultivating deep-rooted perennial grass species and crops that can lock up vast amounts of carbon in the soil.

They are also promoting a program I know they are also looking into in Canada:

SANTFA’s brave plan for new climate

The South Australian No Till Farmers’ Association has come up with an innovative plan for policing standards for soil carbon credits and other “environmental” payments and finance. Brainchild on SANTFA’s recently-appointed Research & Development Manager Greg Butler, the scheme links together auditing for carbon credits, government environmental incentives, and favourable finance terms from banks. The plan will cover all Australian farmers and will be conducted by the Conservation Agricultural Association of Australia and New Zealand, the peak body of the Australasian no till cropping movement. The Carbon Coalition applauds Greg’s vision and endorses such an industry-wide approach. SANTFA’s plan was developed after consultations with the Carbon Coalition. We will report more details of this exciting development as they come to hand.

I have posted a short piece over on [ Greater Democracy ] on the 19X more energy independence that is available to us from grass pellet biofuel and why corn ethanol offers us just 1/19 of the benefits.

If we plan on a national level in terms of 100 million acres of switchgrass, or perhaps grasses with even higher yields of fiber, such as Miscanthus x gigantus [industrial hemp?] , we should design for the greatest amount of useable energy produced per acre. Anything else reduces the chances of our achieving true energy independence.

Solid switchgrass biofuel pellets have 8X more useable energy, net energy, than ethanol! So let’s get the biggest bang for our buck! To invest in ethanol is to throw away our money on an investment with 1/8th the return we could realize if we focused on converting switchgrass into engineered, solid, biofuel pellets made from a blend that includes other fibers from the recycling bin: news papers, waxed cardboard, telephone books, trimmings from making disposable diapers, etc.

By the way, we and others have successfully made pellets from all of the above materials!