Life Cycle Modeling for Pathways from Biomass to Transportation Fuels in California

In this study, a comprehensive model for assessing environmental, economic, and social impacts of biofuels, which include both liquid biofuels and biopower (electricity generated from biomass), in California will be developed based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The term 'Biofuel' in this study will represent both liquid biofuels and biopower as transportation fuels. Afterwards, the optimal and preferable pathways from various biomass feedstocks to liquid biofuels and biopower will be shown based on the model focusing on agricultural residues to analyze the availability, key issues, and uncertainties in them. The study also aims to investigate possible consequences of changes in biofuel pathways under different conditions such as locations or regulatory policies. This study will contribute to current knowledge in the following ways: 1) it develops an integrated model for assessing environmental, economic, and social impacts of biofuel pathways including geographic variability; 2) it identifies preferable biofuel pathways from the standpoint of feedstock, conversion technology and energy product; 3) it provides relevant information for decision-making on the part of industry, policy makers, and communities involved in biofuel siting and investments; and 4) it suggest useful frameworks for social LCA on biofuel and for consequential effects of changes in biofuel pathways.

• Record URL:
  https://ncst.ucdavis.edu/project/life-cycle-modeling-pathways-biomass-transportation-fuels-california

Language

• English

Project

• Status: Active
• Funding: $ 30000
• Contract Numbers:

  DOT 69A3551747114

• Sponsor Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Managing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  University of California, Davis

  Institute of Transportation Studies
  Davis, CA  United States  95616
• Project Managers:

  Iacobucci, Lauren

• Performing Organizations:

  National Center for Sustainable Transportation

  University of California, Davis
  Davis, CA  United States 

  University of California, Davis

  1 Shields Ave
  Davis, California  United States  95616
• Principal Investigators:

  Ro, Jin

• Start Date: 20200101
• Expected Completion Date: 20201231
• Actual Completion Date: 0
• USDOT Program: University Transportation Centers Program

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Biomass fuels; Economic impacts; Environmental impacts; Fuel processing; Life cycle analysis; Social impacts
• Geographic Terms: California
• Subject Areas: Energy; Materials; Planning and Forecasting; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01730532
• Record Type: Research project
• Source Agency: National Center for Sustainable Transportation
• Contract Numbers: DOT 69A3551747114
• Files: UTC, RIP
• Created Date: Feb 4 2020 2:21PM