Net Energy Analysis of Corn Fuel Ethanol Life Cycle

TLDR: In this paper, a method of net energy analysis for fuel ethanol from corn was developed based on principles of life cycle inventory(LCI) analysis, and its main influence factors were identified, and energy saving effect of some ethanol blended gasoline fuels was discussed.

Abstract: Energy efficiency(net energy gain or energy ratio) of corn-based ethanol as a substitute for fossil fuel is an important criteria for assessing its sustainability.The method of net energy analysis for fuel ethanol from corn was developed based on principles of life cycle inventory(LCI) analysis.For the production state of fuel ethanol from summer corn in China,energy efficiency of the corn fuel ethanol life cycle system was estimated and its main influence factors were identified,and energy saving effect of some ethanol blended gasoline fuels was discussed.Corn fuel ethanol has certain energy benefits.The energy ratios for dry and wet milling process were 1.25 and 1.04 respectively.Through comparison of energy inputs in corn fuel ethanol life cycle,fossil energy inputs of corn production and ethanol conversion processes were identified as the most important,and therefore nitrogen fertilizer,electivity and diesel used in corn farming and energy consumption of distillation and dehydration process in ethanol production could be known as the most influential factors for the energy benefit of corn fuel ethanol.