Growth Energy recently worked with the Energy Futures Initiative Foundation, led by former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz, on new research detailing pathways to further decarbonize bioethanol to reach near net-zero carbon intensity by 2035 and negative carbon intensity by 2050.We officially released the study in conjunction with the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Summit during Climate Week NYC this September. And just days later, I presented the findings again on stage at the National Clean Energy Week policymakers symposium in Washington, D.C.As I said in my introduction of Secretary Moniz at the CGI event, ethanol is the only viable solution to decarbonize the liquid fuel sector and other hard-to-abate sectors like heavy-duty vehicles and aviation. This research both demonstrates the positive impact ethanol has had already and offers a path forward for making it an even more powerful tool in the effort to decarbonize transportation.The report analyzed the cost-effectiveness of 21 different measures taking place on farms and at biorefineries across the U.S. It also looked at the potential of lower-carbon bioethanol to help reduce emissions for on-road fuels and close the “emissions gap” in hard-to-abate sectors like aviation.&nbsp;“[A]s we look at where we have come, the reality is the pathway to low-carbon liquid fuels has been tricky,” said Moniz. “It's been difficult. The only sector that has succeeded, frankly, in the United States is [ethanol], where over the last two decades about [a] 23% reduction in carbon intensity has been accomplished, leading to a situation today of being greater than 40% below the analogous carbon intensity for the petroleum derived fuel.”To build on that progress, EFIF examined decarbonization strategies across the entire supply chain—fertilizers, agriculture, transport, refineries and end use. They found nine currently available and affordable pathways, which together could help renewable vehicle fuels achieve emissions reduction goals.“If we equate this to a cost per ton of carbon avoided in emissions [we get] less than $64 per ton, sometimes actually negative cost per ton of carbon,” added Moniz.Three pathways were particularly important, said Moniz, because they “could get us about 90% of the way to carbon neutrality by a decade from now, and to slightly negative by 2050.” Those are carbon capture, low-carbon energy use at biorefineries—including the use of combined heat and power—and climate smart agriculture.To learn more about the new research, visit growthenergy.org/efif.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Author: Emily Skor&nbsp; CEO of Growth Energy

2024-11-01 - Putting the Latest Science in Front of Climate and Energy Leaders (Ethanol Producer Magazine)

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Growth Energy recently worked with the Energy Futures Initiative Foundation, led by former U.S. Secretary of Energy Ernest J. Moniz, on new research detailing pathways to further decarbonize bioethanol.

Putting the Latest Science in Front of Climate and Energy Leaders

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