Ethanol Keeps Gaining Ground in the Race to Reduce Carbon

(Urban Air Initiative) Replacing toxic carcinogens in gasoline provides a huge boost to an already impressive carbon reduction number for ethanol, according to a new study published by Transport Energy Strategies (TES), a leading energy consultancy with expertise in emissions, fuel and oil refining.

TES found that ethanol’s inclusion in the fuel supply has had an even greater impact on reducing carbon emissions than previously determined. This occurs because ethanol replaces toxic aromatics in gasoline, the most carbon intensive component of the fuel. Ethanol has the highest octane rating of any other additive and reduces the need for these known carcinogens at an oil refinery.

Based on the findings by TES, Urban Air Initiative calculates that when credited for lowering aromatics, ethanol’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are 56% lower than gasoline, compared to the currently modeled 43% reduction.

“For years, the ethanol industry has touted the value of displacing aromatics with ethanol from an air pollution and public health standpoint, but no one has, to our team’s knowledge, ever truly factored in what displacement might mean for carbon intensity and for reducing GHG emissions,” said Tammy Klein, founder and CEO of Transport Energy Strategies and a member of the study team. “Our findings break new ground.”

Until now, all of the modeling around corn ethanol and carbon centered on the lifecycle analysis of how ethanol gets from the corn field through the processing stage. TES looked into the carbon impact of blending ethanol into gasoline in order to more accurately assess the total lifecycle. The study found that the displaced aromatics have a high carbon score, and the inclusion of ethanol therefore improves the GHG impact of the finished fuel. This advantageous blending attribute is due to ethanol’s high octane rating and has been neglected in prior literature.

“This is just one more example of how ethanol helps decarbonize liquid transportation fuels. It’s a readily available, clean, plant based solution that’s already made more of a difference than it has been credited for. The findings by TES demonstrate the need to update the current science and recognize ethanol’s ability to have an even larger carbon benefit with increased availability of higher blends,” said Urban Air Initiative President Dave VanderGriend.

VanderGriend said the goal is now for ethanol’s updated carbon score to be incorporated into a calculation of the Greenhouse Gas and Regulated Emissions in Transportation (GREET) - Model, which is the gold standard of GHG emissions modeling developed by the Department of Energy through their Argonne National Laboratory.

About Urban Air Initiative
The Urban Air Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving air quality and protecting public health by reducing vehicle emissions. We are focused on increasing the use of clean burning ethanol in our gasoline supply to replace harmful aromatic compounds. Urban Air is helping meet public policy goals to lower emissions and reduce carbon in our environment through scientific studies and real world data to promote new fuels, engine design, and public awareness. To learn more, visit FixOurFuel.com. READ MORE

Excerpt from GrainNet: "This study strengthens the case we’ve been making for several years to regulatory bodies about the importance of applying the latest lifecycle science.

“We hope future lifecycle models ill credit ethanol for the role it plays in displacing aromatics in gasoline.”

“This research aligns with ACE’s multi-year engagement with administration and legislative officials, as well as scientists at the Argonne National Laboratory in regards to properly valuing corn ethanol’s low carbon and high octane attributes."

“The 2020 version of GREET created a new Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator to help quantify the soil carbon sequestration benefits of corn and other biofuel feedstocks, which, in response, ACE, along with corn grower groups, provided recommendations to modify the calculator to measure crop-specific impacts on soil carbon and reduce indirect nitrogen emissions from fertilizer use.

"We’ll also encourage the carbon benefit of ethanol in replacing aromatics in gasoline be accounted for in future versions of GREET, as we continue our collaboration with modelers on these and other important updates that will increase the value and demand for corn ethanol in climate discussions and development of future clean fuel policies.” READ MORE