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Well-to-wheel greenhouse gas implications of mid-level ethanol blend deployment in Canada's light-duty fleet

Author

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  • Milovanoff, Alexandre
  • Posen, I. Daniel
  • Saville, Bradley A.
  • MacLean, Heather L.

Abstract

Replacing conventional gasoline with mid-level ethanol blends (15–30% ethanol by volume) can reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions but require vehicle compatibility. This study quantifies the changes in fuel volumes and well-to-wheel (WTW) GHG emissions associated with potential mid-level ethanol blend deployment in Canada's light-duty vehicle fleet from 2018 to 2030. We develop a Canadian fleet model that projects the number of vehicles by vehicle technology and production year from 2015 to 2030, their fuel blend compatibilities, and their annual fuel use, considering the potential effects of ethanol blend level on vehicle fuel consumption and associated GHG emissions. The results show that the deployment of low and mid-level ethanol blends, such as E10, E15 or E25, could reduce petroleum gasoline use by 12% in 2030, while tripling ethanol use, from 2.6 to 7.2 billion liters annually. Incorporating emission factors from the GHGenius model suggests that mid-level blends can reduce fleet WTW GHG emissions in 2030 by 7.2% assuming the use of corn and wheat ethanol, and by up to 13.4% assuming cellulosic ethanol. The octane enhancing effect of ethanol is responsible for up to 30% of the reductions. Achieving the above reductions would require coordination among vehicle manufacturers, refiners and policymakers. Overall, mid-level blends can materially reduce GHG emissions of the Canadian light-duty fleet, but represent less than 1/5 of the reductions required for the light-duty fleet to achieve emissions that are 30% below 2005 levels (Canada's pledge under the Paris Agreement).

Suggested Citation

  • Milovanoff, Alexandre & Posen, I. Daniel & Saville, Bradley A. & MacLean, Heather L., 2020. "Well-to-wheel greenhouse gas implications of mid-level ethanol blend deployment in Canada's light-duty fleet," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:131:y:2020:i:c:s1364032120303038
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2020.110012
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Mendiburu, Andrés Z. & Lauermann, Carlos H. & Hayashi, Thamy C. & Mariños, Diego J. & Rodrigues da Costa, Roberto Berlini & Coronado, Christian J.R. & Roberts, Justo J. & de Carvalho, João A., 2022. "Ethanol as a renewable biofuel: Combustion characteristics and application in engines," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    2. Chen, Leyuan & Wang, Yao & Jiang, Yancui & Zhang, Caizhi & Liao, Quan & Li, Jun & Wu, Jihao & Gao, Xin, 2024. "Life cycle assessment of liquid hydrogen fuel for vehicles with different production routes in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    3. Mandegari, Mohsen & Ebadian, Mahmood & Saddler, Jack (John), 2023. "The need for effective life cycle assessment (LCA) to enhance the effectiveness of policies such as low carbon fuel standards (LCFS's)," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    4. Huang, Caoxing & Jiang, Xiao & Shen, Xiaojun & Hu, Jinguang & Tang, Wei & Wu, Xinxing & Ragauskas, Arthur & Jameel, Hasan & Meng, Xianzhi & Yong, Qiang, 2022. "Lignin-enzyme interaction: A roadblock for efficient enzymatic hydrolysis of lignocellulosics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    5. Alzaghrini, Nadine & Milovanoff, Alexandre & Roy, Riddhiman & Abdul-Manan, Amir F.N. & McKechnie, Jon & Posen, I. Daniel & MacLean, Heather L., 2024. "Closing the GHG mitigation gap with measures targeting conventional gasoline light-duty vehicles – A scenario-based analysis of the U.S. fleet," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 359(C).

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