Comparative analysis of sugarcane and sweet sorghum bioethanol carbon footprints, carbon savings and carbon debt payback periods
Issue Date
12-2015
Abstract
One of the parameters to assess the environmental sustainability of the bioethanol industry is to conduct carbon analysis and determine its effectiveness in terms of mitigating climate change. By comparing the carbon savings and carbon debt payback periods of two bioethanol feedstocks (sugarcane and sweet sorghum), not only the more environmentally sustainable bioethanol was revealed but also the potential complementary nature of these two feedstocks to significantly reduce the GHG emissions of the transportation sector was assessed. Carbon savings of a typical Philippine bioethanol production scenario for sugarcane was determined to be equal to 218.99% with a carbon footprint of -110,045.29 t CO sub 2 e/yr; while for sweet sorghum, the calculated carbon savings was 154.32% with a carbon footprint of -34,629.57 t CO sub 2 e/yr at equivalent fuel energy basis. Meanwhile, the carbon payback periods of 2-4 mo for sugarcane and 3-5 mo for sweet sorghum were derived from the calculated carbon debt incurred from construction equal to 65,730.39 t CO sub 2 e for sugarcane and 66,226.14 t CO sub 2 e for sweet sorghum. Taking into account the percent carbon savings calculated, the following combinations revealed to be able to meet the global climate mitigation target by 2030: 20% biodiesel and 35% sugarcane bioethanol, 20% biodiesel and 45% sweet sorghum bioethanol. Although carbon savings of sugarcane bioethanol is higher than sweet sorghum bioethanol, both carbon savings were significant to payback carbon debts from constructing new bioethanol plants and to meet the global climate mitigation target.
Source or Periodical Title
Philippine Journal of Crop Science
ISSN
0115-463X
Volume
40
Issue
3
Page
10-22
Document Type
Article
College
College of Agriculture and Food Science (CAFS)
Physical Description
illustrations; graphs; tables
Language
English
Subject
Sugarcane; Carbon; Climate change
Recommended Citation
Demafelis, R. B.; Alcantara, A. J.; Movillon, J. L.; Pacardo, E. P.; Espaldon, M.V. O.; Flavier, M. E.; Eleazar, P.J. M.; and Tongko, B. D., "Comparative analysis of sugarcane and sweet sorghum bioethanol carbon footprints, carbon savings and carbon debt payback periods" (2015). Journal Article. 4171.
https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/journal-articles/4171
En – AGROVOC descriptors
SUGARCANE; SORGHUM BICOLOR; CARBON; FUELS; CLIMATIC CHANGE