Ethanol Fuel Energy Balance - Clean Production Bioethanol

Clean Production Bioethanol

Clean production bioethanol is a biofuel obtained by maximizing non-greenhouse gas emitting (renewable) resources:

• energy directly consumed to make the ethanol is renewable energy. The farm equipment and ethanol plant use an ethanol engine, biodiesel, air engine or electricity cogenerated during ethanol production, or even wind power and solar energy.
• energy indirectly consumed is, as much as possible, renewable. Examples would be reducing either the amount or fossil carbon content of applied pest control chemicals and fertilizers, or accomplishing deliveries of farm inputs or of finished bioethanol fuel to market that minimize the use of fossil fuels. Optimally located biomass and ethanol production must balance many factors: minimizing distances to and from markets, effectively collecting and employing biomass wastes, maximizing crop yields based on enduring soil quality, available natural pest control and adequate sun and water, and optimizing a sufficient mix and rotation of plant species on cultivated, fallow and preserved land for human, animal and energy consumption.