HRstrategy
Overview of commonplace biofuelsPaths towards net-zero ethanol N-Zero’s part in realizing the low-carbon potential of biofuelsA fresh mission is taking hold in numerous agricultural societies across the Midwestern Corn Belt.
Recently, agricultural processors and row crop farmers have begun to merge a new objective with their traditional role of supplying the world's food and fiber: aiding in the decarbonisation of our transport sector.
In the US, transportation contributes about 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions, with over half of those emissions generated by light-duty vehicles. As the US strives for emission reduction, tackling the primary source within the largest emitting sector is crucial. Thankfully, a corn-based, domestically sourced biofuel called ethanol has made significant strides towards decarbonization at scale.
The Commonplace BiofuelsBiofuels have been integral to our transportation journey for several decades. If your car was manufactured in the 2000s, it can likely run on a flex-fuel like E85, which is a blend of ethanol and gasoline. Perhaps you've been on a bus fueled by renewable diesel or flown in a jet powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel, a recent addition to the biofuel landscape.
Regardless of the application, biofuels have become a routine part of many Americans' daily commutes. The true power of biofuels lies not just in their widespread usage, but also in their unique potential for lifecycle decarbonisation.
Biofuels are not all created equal, and unlocking their decarbonisation potential requires the right tools paired with high-quality data. And that’s where N-Zero’s expertise comes in.
A Path to N-Zero EthanolIn the realm of biofuel, corn-based ethanol reigns supreme:
98% of gasoline sold in the US contains ethanol.It's domestically produced from renewable resourcesIt's cost-effective for drivers at the pumpIt's cleaner-burning than standard gasolineIts production infrastructure is well-established and reliableIt can meet the growing demand for alternative transportation fuelsMoreover, US biofuel producers are rallying around the industry’s net-zero by 2050 pledge. Most ethanol stakeholders who have joined this pledge would point to their plant's net-zero roadmap as their strategy to achieve this goal.
This roadmap is the linchpin of biofuel decarbonisation.
It details every major emission point in the lifecycle of ethanol production. Large numbers would be associated with "Corn Production" and "Biorefining", and smaller ones next to "Transportation" and a few other areas. Despite the complexity of production, the supply chain is relatively straightforward: corn is grown, transported, processed into fuel, and sold.
The simplicity of the supply chain is the key to low carbon biofuel production. It allows for targeted changes at specific emission points, leading to dramatic reductions in total lifecycle carbon intensity.
And this is where N-Zero steps in.
nZero’s Role in Unleashing a Biofuel’s Low-Carbon PotentialWhat cannot be measured cannot be changed.
nZero’s platform enables you to:
Automate the collection of emissions dataCalculate carbon intensity at each step of a biofuel's production journeyProvide biofuel producers with insights to make dynamic decisions to lower their carbon intensity Demonstrate how they can increase production while reducing carbon intensity (CI)Given the relatively simple carbon-reduction roadmap, it's crucial to understand the data and impact at each stop with utmost accuracy.
For instance, a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project can reduce a biofuel's carbon intensity by up to 30g
