It takes as much, if not more energy to produce the energy equivalent of a barrel of ethanol than the energy output of that barrel of ethanol. This is not, and never has been a matter of dispute. The thermodynamics proves it.
Imagine producing fuel from two sources. A. A barrel of crude oil, and; B. A field of corn. Getting fuel (gasoline) from crude requires, simply put, that you distill it.
Contrast getting fuel from corn. You need to till the field, grow the corn, harvest it, grind it, ferment it, distill it, and then dry the distillate.
The result:
Corn ethanol’s EROI – Energy Returned On Invested is so low, it barely provides one net barrel of fuel to the market for one barrel worth of energy that it took to produce it.
The EROI, or EROEI, Energy Returned On Energy Invested
For an offshore drilling platform: EROEI = 13 (13 times more energy output than input)
See Jones, J Pet Environ Biotechnol 2013, 4:4, DOI: 10.4172/2157-7463.1000150
See Figure 1: EROEI for US oil over the period 1930-2000, showing an EROEI for crude oil ranging from 100 in 1930 to 11 in the year 2000.
See "Seeking to Understand the Reasons for Different Energy Return on Investment (EROI) Estimates for Biofuels" in the peer review journal Sustainability 2011, 3, 2413-2432; doi:10.3390/su3122413, by Charles A.S. Hall 1,*, Bruce E. Dale 2 and David Pimentel 3
which give 0.76 as the ratio for corn ethanol: Put in one barrel worth of energy and get 0.76 in return.
"Corn Ethanol Is Now a Climate-Change Scandal", Robert Bryce, InsideSources September 8, 2016
Since the time of its original publication in 2018, I have written and published another six or seven dozen reports and studies that further explain the items I refer to in the book. So if you would narrow down for me the assertions you wish to challenge, I'd be absolutely delighted to respond.
Dear Mr. Rauch,
What do you offer as proof of your asertion?
Irwin
Sir,
It takes as much, if not more energy to produce the energy equivalent of a barrel of ethanol than the energy output of that barrel of ethanol. This is not, and never has been a matter of dispute. The thermodynamics proves it.
Imagine producing fuel from two sources. A. A barrel of crude oil, and; B. A field of corn. Getting fuel (gasoline) from crude requires, simply put, that you distill it.
Contrast getting fuel from corn. You need to till the field, grow the corn, harvest it, grind it, ferment it, distill it, and then dry the distillate.
The result:
Corn ethanol’s EROI – Energy Returned On Invested is so low, it barely provides one net barrel of fuel to the market for one barrel worth of energy that it took to produce it.
The EROI, or EROEI, Energy Returned On Energy Invested
For an offshore drilling platform: EROEI = 13 (13 times more energy output than input)
https://peakoil.com/geology/energy-return-on-energy-invested-eroei-for-crude-oil-and-other-sources-of-energy
See Jones, J Pet Environ Biotechnol 2013, 4:4, DOI: 10.4172/2157-7463.1000150
See Figure 1: EROEI for US oil over the period 1930-2000, showing an EROEI for crude oil ranging from 100 in 1930 to 11 in the year 2000.
See "Seeking to Understand the Reasons for Different Energy Return on Investment (EROI) Estimates for Biofuels" in the peer review journal Sustainability 2011, 3, 2413-2432; doi:10.3390/su3122413, by Charles A.S. Hall 1,*, Bruce E. Dale 2 and David Pimentel 3
which give 0.76 as the ratio for corn ethanol: Put in one barrel worth of energy and get 0.76 in return.
"Corn Ethanol Is Now a Climate-Change Scandal", Robert Bryce, InsideSources September 8, 2016
Respectfully yours,
I. Richman
Irwin, I imagine you're MOT. If so, act like it. You should be a whole lot smarter.
Ethanol is energy positive, it is gasoline that is energy negative. You're citing Robert Bryce. I guess it's safe to say that you never read my 6 part 70-page review and rebuttal to Bryce "Gusher of Lies" book. You can find it at https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2017/04/05/365787-truth-about-ethanol-review-and-reply-to-robert-bryce-s.html.
Contained within this review/rebuttal you will find my extensive comments on David Pimental.
Irwin, thanks for asking. Of course, you might specify which assertion you are asking about so that I could directly respond, but to say you time I'll simply direct you to my 600-page book "THE ETHANOL PAPERS." You can read it online for FREE at https://www.theautochannel.com/news/2018/10/12/632678-ethanol-papers-massive-book-provides-whole-story-ethanol-fuel-free.html. It contains hundreds of citations and verifiable references.
Since the time of its original publication in 2018, I have written and published another six or seven dozen reports and studies that further explain the items I refer to in the book. So if you would narrow down for me the assertions you wish to challenge, I'd be absolutely delighted to respond.