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Life cycle water use of low-carbon transport fuels

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  • Harto, Christopher
  • Meyers, Robert
  • Williams, Eric

Abstract

In society's quest to mitigate climate change it is important to consider potential trade-offs in climate solutions impacting other environmental issues. This analysis explores the life cycle water consumption of alternative low-carbon energy sources for transportation. Energy sources analyzed include both biofuels used in internal combustion engines and low-carbon electricity generation methods used in conjunction with electric vehicles. Biofuels considered are corn-based ethanol, soybean biodiesel, cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass, and microbial biodiesel. Electricity sources analyzed are coal with carbon sequestration, photovoltaic cells, and solar concentrators. The assessment method used is hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA), which combines materials-based process method and the economic input-output (EIO) method. To compare these technologies on an even footing the life cycle water use to propel a passenger vehicle one mile is estimated. All technologies evaluated showed an increase in water consumption compared to unleaded gasoline when water use from vehicle manufacturing was included. Scale-up calculations showed that mass adoption of electric vehicles and some configurations of algae and switchgrass systems could potentially contribute to the decarbonization of transportation with tolerable increases in overall water consumption. Irrigated crop based biofuels however were found to have significant potential impact on water resources when scaled up to macroscopic production levels.

Suggested Citation

  • Harto, Christopher & Meyers, Robert & Williams, Eric, 2010. "Life cycle water use of low-carbon transport fuels," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(9), pages 4933-4944, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:38:y:2010:i:9:p:4933-4944
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    2. Subhadra, Bobban G., 2011. "Water management policies for the algal biofuel sector in the Southwestern United States," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(10), pages 3492-3498.
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    5. Najmul Hoque & Wahidul Biswas & Ilyas Mazhar & Ian Howard, 2020. "Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Alternative Energy Sources for the Western Australian Transport Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-33, July.
    6. Okadera, Tomohiro & Chontanawat, Jaruwan & Gheewala, Shabbir H., 2014. "Water footprint for energy production and supply in Thailand," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 49-56.
    7. Colin M. Beal & Robert E. Hebner & Michael E. Webber & Rodney S. Ruoff & A. Frank Seibert & Carey W. King, 2012. "Comprehensive Evaluation of Algal Biofuel Production: Experimental and Target Results," Energies, MDPI, vol. 5(6), pages 1-39, June.
    8. Nuri Cihat Onat & Murat Kucukvar & Omer Tatari, 2014. "Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment of Alternative Passenger Vehicles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(12), pages 1-38, December.
    9. Borrion, Aiduan Li & McManus, Marcelle C. & Hammond, Geoffrey P., 2012. "Environmental life cycle assessment of lignocellulosic conversion to ethanol: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(7), pages 4638-4650.
    10. Chamkalani, A. & Zendehboudi, S. & Rezaei, N. & Hawboldt, K., 2020. "A critical review on life cycle analysis of algae biodiesel: current challenges and future prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    11. Lyu, Peng-hui & Ngai, Eric W.T. & Wu, Pei-yi, 2019. "Scientific data-driven evaluation on academic articles of low-carbon economy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 358-367.
    12. Spiller, Elisheba & Sopher, Peter & Martin, Nicholas & Mirzatuny, Marita & Zhang, Xinxing, 2017. "The environmental impacts of green technologies in TX," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 199-214.
    13. Yang, Qing & Liang, Ji & Li, Jiashuo & Yang, Haiping & Chen, Hanping, 2018. "Life cycle water use of a biomass-based pyrolysis polygeneration system in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 469-480.
    14. Cai, Hua & Hu, Xiaojun & Xu, Ming, 2013. "Impact of emerging clean vehicle system on water stress," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 644-651.
    15. Hoekman, S. Kent & Broch, Amber & Liu, Xiaowei (Vivian), 2018. "Environmental implications of higher ethanol production and use in the U.S.: A literature review. Part I – Impacts on water, soil, and air quality," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 3140-3158.
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    17. Zhu, Yuli & Liang, Ji & Yang, Qing & Zhou, Hewen & Peng, Kun, 2019. "Water use of a biomass direct-combustion power generation system in China: A combination of life cycle assessment and water footprint analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).

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    Water Biofuels Transportation;

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