Hydrocarbon Bio-Jet Fuel from Bioconversion of Poplar Biomass: Life Cycle Assessment of Site-Specific Impacts
Hydrocarbon drop-in bio-jet fuels could help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the aviation sector. Large tracts of land will be required to grow biomass feedstock for this biofuel, and changes to the management of these lands could have substantial environmental impacts. This research uses...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Forests |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/4/549 |
| _version_ | 1797434735411068928 |
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| author | Erik Budsberg Nathan Parker Varaprasad Bandaru Renata Bura Rick Gustafson |
| author_facet | Erik Budsberg Nathan Parker Varaprasad Bandaru Renata Bura Rick Gustafson |
| author_sort | Erik Budsberg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hydrocarbon drop-in bio-jet fuels could help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the aviation sector. Large tracts of land will be required to grow biomass feedstock for this biofuel, and changes to the management of these lands could have substantial environmental impacts. This research uses spatial analysis and life cycle assessment methodologies to investigate potential environmental impacts associated with converting land to grow poplar trees for conversion to bio-jet fuel from different regions within the western United States. Results vary by region and are dependent on land availability, type of land converted, prior land management practices, and poplar growth yields. The conversion of intensively managed cropland to poplar production results in a decrease in fertilizer and a lower annual global warming potential (GWP) (Clarksburg CA region). Bringing unmanaged rangeland into production results in increases in fertilizers, chemical inputs, fuel use, and GWP (Jefferson OR region). Where poplar yields are predicted to be lower, more land is converted to growing poplar to meet feedstock demands (Hayden ID). An increased use of land leads to greater fuel use and GWP. Changes to land use and management practices will drive changes at the local level that need to be understood before developing a drop-in biofuels industry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:36:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da81f869a1d3430da9545aed7f44e166 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1999-4907 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T10:36:43Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Forests |
| spelling | doaj.art-da81f869a1d3430da9545aed7f44e1662023-12-01T20:54:31ZengMDPI AGForests1999-49072022-03-0113454910.3390/f13040549Hydrocarbon Bio-Jet Fuel from Bioconversion of Poplar Biomass: Life Cycle Assessment of Site-Specific ImpactsErik Budsberg0Nathan Parker1Varaprasad Bandaru2Renata Bura3Rick Gustafson4Office of Sustainability, Eastern Washington University, Cheney, WA 99004, USASchool of Sustainability, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USADepartment of Geographical Sciences, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USASchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences, College of the Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USASchool of Environmental and Forest Sciences, College of the Environment, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USAHydrocarbon drop-in bio-jet fuels could help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the aviation sector. Large tracts of land will be required to grow biomass feedstock for this biofuel, and changes to the management of these lands could have substantial environmental impacts. This research uses spatial analysis and life cycle assessment methodologies to investigate potential environmental impacts associated with converting land to grow poplar trees for conversion to bio-jet fuel from different regions within the western United States. Results vary by region and are dependent on land availability, type of land converted, prior land management practices, and poplar growth yields. The conversion of intensively managed cropland to poplar production results in a decrease in fertilizer and a lower annual global warming potential (GWP) (Clarksburg CA region). Bringing unmanaged rangeland into production results in increases in fertilizers, chemical inputs, fuel use, and GWP (Jefferson OR region). Where poplar yields are predicted to be lower, more land is converted to growing poplar to meet feedstock demands (Hayden ID). An increased use of land leads to greater fuel use and GWP. Changes to land use and management practices will drive changes at the local level that need to be understood before developing a drop-in biofuels industry.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/4/549biofuelsdrop-in biofuelshydrocarbon biofuelslife cycle assessmentspatial analysisregional environmental impacts |
| spellingShingle | Erik Budsberg Nathan Parker Varaprasad Bandaru Renata Bura Rick Gustafson Hydrocarbon Bio-Jet Fuel from Bioconversion of Poplar Biomass: Life Cycle Assessment of Site-Specific Impacts Forests biofuels drop-in biofuels hydrocarbon biofuels life cycle assessment spatial analysis regional environmental impacts |
| title | Hydrocarbon Bio-Jet Fuel from Bioconversion of Poplar Biomass: Life Cycle Assessment of Site-Specific Impacts |
| title_full | Hydrocarbon Bio-Jet Fuel from Bioconversion of Poplar Biomass: Life Cycle Assessment of Site-Specific Impacts |
| title_fullStr | Hydrocarbon Bio-Jet Fuel from Bioconversion of Poplar Biomass: Life Cycle Assessment of Site-Specific Impacts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hydrocarbon Bio-Jet Fuel from Bioconversion of Poplar Biomass: Life Cycle Assessment of Site-Specific Impacts |
| title_short | Hydrocarbon Bio-Jet Fuel from Bioconversion of Poplar Biomass: Life Cycle Assessment of Site-Specific Impacts |
| title_sort | hydrocarbon bio jet fuel from bioconversion of poplar biomass life cycle assessment of site specific impacts |
| topic | biofuels drop-in biofuels hydrocarbon biofuels life cycle assessment spatial analysis regional environmental impacts |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4907/13/4/549 |
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