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Seeking to Understand the Reasons for Different Energy Return on Investment (EROI) Estimates for Biofuels

Author

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  • Charles A.S. Hall

    (College of Environmental Science and Forestry, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York, NY 13210, USA)

  • Bruce E. Dale

    (Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA)

  • David Pimentel

    (Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA)

Abstract

The authors of this paper have been involved in contentious discussion of the EROI of biomass-based ethanol. This contention has undermined, in the minds of some, the utility of EROI for assessing fuels. This paper seeks to understand the reasons for the divergent results.

Suggested Citation

  • Charles A.S. Hall & Bruce E. Dale & David Pimentel, 2011. "Seeking to Understand the Reasons for Different Energy Return on Investment (EROI) Estimates for Biofuels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(12), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:3:y:2011:i:12:p:2413-2432:d:15198
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Philip F. Henshaw & Carey King & Jay Zarnikau, 2011. "System Energy Assessment (SEA), Defining a Standard Measure of EROI for Energy Businesses as Whole Systems," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(10), pages 1-36, October.
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    6. David J. Murphy & Charles A.S. Hall & Michael Dale & Cutler Cleveland, 2011. "Order from Chaos: A Preliminary Protocol for Determining the EROI of Fuels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 3(10), pages 1-20, October.
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jingxuan Feng & Lianyong Feng & Jianliang Wang, 2018. "Analysis of Point-of-Use Energy Return on Investment and Net Energy Yields from China’s Conventional Fossil Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-21, February.
    2. Atlason, Reynir Smari, 2018. "EROI and the Icelandic society," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 52-57.
    3. Larnaudie, Valeria & Ferrari, Mario Daniel & Lareo, Claudia, 2021. "Life cycle assessment of ethanol produced in a biorefinery from liquid hot water pretreated switchgrass," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 606-616.
    4. Mark E. Capron & Jim R. Stewart & Antoine de Ramon N’Yeurt & Michael D. Chambers & Jang K. Kim & Charles Yarish & Anthony T. Jones & Reginald B. Blaylock & Scott C. James & Rae Fuhrman & Martin T. She, 2020. "Restoring Pre-Industrial CO 2 Levels While Achieving Sustainable Development Goals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-30, September.
    5. Ilaria Perissi & Alessandro Lavacchi & Ugo Bardi, 2021. "The Role of Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROEI) in Complex Adaptive Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-15, December.
    6. Marwa G. Saad & Noura S. Dosoky & Mohamed S. Zoromba & Hesham M. Shafik, 2019. "Algal Biofuels: Current Status and Key Challenges," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-22, May.
    7. Delannoy, Louis & Longaretti, Pierre-Yves & Murphy, David J. & Prados, Emmanuel, 2021. "Peak oil and the low-carbon energy transition: A net-energy perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 304(C).
    8. Thilanka Ariyawansha & Dimuthu Abeyrathna & Buddhika Kulasekara & Devananda Pottawela & Dinesh Kodithuwakku & Sandya Ariyawansha & Natasha Sewwandi & WBMAC Bandara & Tofael Ahamed & Ryozo Noguchi, 2020. "A Novel Approach to Minimize Energy Requirements and Maximize Biomass Utilization of the Sugarcane Harvesting System in Sri Lanka," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-22, March.
    9. King, Carey W., 2014. "Matrix method for comparing system and individual energy return ratios when considering an energy transition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 254-265.
    10. Ke Zhao & Jingxuan Feng & Lianyong Feng, 2021. "Analysis of the Long-Term Impact of Energy Expenditure on Economic Growth: A Case Study of China," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 6(4), pages 1-16, December.
    11. Chih-Chun Kung & Tao Wu, 2020. "A spatial equilibrium analysis of using agricultural resources to produce biofuel," Agricultural Economics, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 66(2), pages 74-83.
    12. Souhil Harchaoui & Petros Chatzimpiros, 2018. "Energy, Nitrogen, and Farm Surplus Transitions in Agriculture from Historical Data Modeling. France, 1882–2013," Post-Print hal-02999180, HAL.
    13. Sampedro, Jon & Kyle, Page & Ramig, Christopher W. & Tanner, Daniel & Huster, Jonathan E. & Wise, Marshall A., 2021. "Dynamic linking of upstream energy and freight demands for bio and fossil energy pathways in the Global Change Analysis Model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 302(C).
    14. Joanna Šukasiewicz & Bartłomiej Bajan, 2024. "Farm Gate Energy Intensity of Food Production in Poland - Considering the Physical and Economic Aspects of Production," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 14(4), pages 216-225, July.
    15. Devin Moeller & Heidi L. Sieverding & James J. Stone, 2017. "Comparative Farm-Gate Life Cycle Assessment of Oilseed Feedstocks in the Northern Great Plains," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 2(4), pages 1-16, December.
    16. Lambert, Jessica G. & Hall, Charles A.S. & Balogh, Stephen & Gupta, Ajay & Arnold, Michelle, 2014. "Energy, EROI and quality of life," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 153-167.
    17. Hall, Charles A.S. & Lambert, Jessica G. & Balogh, Stephen B., 2014. "EROI of different fuels and the implications for society," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 141-152.
    18. Ringsmuth, Andrew K. & Landsberg, Michael J. & Hankamer, Ben, 2016. "Can photosynthesis enable a global transition from fossil fuels to solar fuels, to mitigate climate change and fuel-supply limitations?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 134-163.
    19. Tiziano Gomiero, 2015. "Are Biofuels an Effective and Viable Energy Strategy for Industrialized Societies? A Reasoned Overview of Potentials and Limits," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-31, June.
    20. Salehi, Mohammad & Khajehpour, Hossein & Saboohi, Yadollah, 2020. "Extended Energy Return on Investment of multiproduct energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    21. Bartłomiej Bajan & Joanna Łukasiewicz & Agnieszka Poczta-Wajda & Walenty Poczta, 2021. "Edible Energy Production and Energy Return on Investment—Long-Term Analysis of Global Changes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-16, February.
    22. Arodudu, Oludunsin Tunrayo & Helming, Katharina & Voinov, Alexey & Wiggering, Hubert, 2017. "Integrating agronomic factors into energy efficiency assessment of agro-bioenergy production – A case study of ethanol and biogas production from maize feedstock," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 426-439.
    23. Graham Palmer, 2018. "A Biophysical Perspective of IPCC Integrated Energy Modelling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-17, April.
    24. Forsberg, C.W. & Dale, B.E. & Jones, D.S. & Hossain, T. & Morais, A.R.C. & Wendt, L.M., 2021. "Replacing liquid fossil fuels and hydrocarbon chemical feedstocks with liquid biofuels from large-scale nuclear biorefineries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).

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    Keywords

    Ethanol; EROI; corn-based; cellulosic;
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