[Pil-pc-oceania] - Biofuels without starvation; multi-use species

[Laurence Gaffney]

A 2007 Report on Biofuels using Emergy Analysis:-
https://drum.umd.edu/dspace/bitstream/1903/6671/1/umi-umd-4130.pdf


INTEGRATED ENERGY, ENVIRONMENTAL AND FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF BIOFUEL PRODUCTION FROM SWITCHGRASS, HYBRID POPLAR, SOYBEAN AND CASTORBEAN

The report concludes:-
"In summary, it was concluded that neither cellulosic ethanol made from switchgrass nor hybrid poplar feedstock, nor biodiesel made from soybean or castorbean, can be a primary source of liquid fuel that substitutes for petroleum-based fuels. Rather, their production is an energy consuming process that provides a means to convert stocks of water, soil, coal, natural gas, and electricity into a liquid fuel that is highly demanded by Americans for transportation. With marginal to negative net energy yields, the current political push to subsidize "biofuels" like switchgrass ethanol will only accelerate the rate at which the nation depletes its endowment of coal, natural gas and uranium."

Laurence Gaffney 


Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 08:47:28 +0930
From: "Deb Guildner" <bocor at bigbutton.com.au>
Subject: [Pil-pc-oceania] Biofuels without starvation; multi-use
species (renewable energy world)
To: "permacultue discussion list"
<pil-pc-oceania at lists.permacultureinternational.org>
Message-ID: <00cc01c8ab18$5c6f6c30$0301a8c0 at deborahly2acqi>
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I am wondering what attention is being given to native grasses both as grain substitute (ie native millet) and also
as potential biofuel.

Also jerusalem artichokes, ditto, a multi-use species..
Sorghum is also mentioned below as a biofuel...high cellulose contaent.
It is a defining permaculture principle to have multi-use plants.

There are also the usual references to hemp below.

If nothing else it will be a more diverse agricultural landscape in the near future...
Australia could certainly benefit from that!

Cheers
Deb 
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http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52318
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