Renewable Energy

Farm-Based Anaerobic Digesters as an Energy and Odor Control Technology, Background and Policy Issues, William F. Lazarus, March 2008

The Economic Feasibility of Ethanol Production from Sugar in the United States
This report was done through a cooperative agreement between the Office of Energy Policy and New Uses (OEPNU), Office of the Chief Economist (OCE), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Louisiana State University (LSU). Principal authors of this report are Dr. Hossein Shapouri, OEPNU/OCE, USDA and Dr. Michael Salassi, J. Nelson Fairbanks Professor of Agricultural Economics, Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, LSU Agricultural Center. July 2006

USDA's 2002 Ethanol Cost-of-Production Survey
Hosein Shapouri, Paul Gallagher. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. Agricultural Economic Report No. 841.

In 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture surveyed 21 dry-mill ethanol plants to estimate their 2002 production costs, including both variable (feed-stock and plant operation) and capital expenses.

The 2001 Net Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol
Hosein Shapouri, James Duffield, Andrew McAloon, Michael Wang. Presented at the Corn Utilization and Technology Conference, June 7-9, 2004, Indianapolis, IN.

This report estimates the net energy balance of corn ethanol utilizing the latest survey of U.S. corn producers and the 2001 U.S. survey of ethanol plants. Results indicate that corn ethanol has a positive energy balance, even before subtracting the energy allocated to by products.

Biomass from Crop Residues: Cost and Supply Estimates
Paul Gallagher, Mark Dikeman, John Fritz, Eric Wailes, Wayne Gauther, and Hosein Shapouri, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. Agricultural Economic Report No. 819

The supply of harvested crop residues as a feed stock for energy products is estimated in this report. The estimates account for economic and environmental factors governing residue supply. The supply results span major agricultural crops in four distinct cropping regions of the United States, taking into account local variation in cost-determining factors such as residue yield, geographic density of residues, and competition for livestock feed use.

The Economic Impacts of Bioenergy Crop Production on U.S. Agriculture
Daniel G. De La Torre Ugarte, Marie E. Walsh, Hosein Shapouri, and Stephen P. Slinsky. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. Agricultural Economic Report No. 816.

In response to energy security concerns, alternative energy programs such as biomass systems are being developed to provide energy in the 21st century. Though a number of scenarios were examined to study the impact of bioenergy crop production on the agricultural sector, two cropland scenarios are presented in this report.

The Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol: An Update
Hosein Shapouri, James A. Duffield, and Michael Wang. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. Agricultural Economic Report No. 814.

Studies conducted since the late 1970's have estimated the net energy value (NEV) of corn ethanol. However, variations in data and assumptions used among the studies have resulted in a wide range of estimates. This study identifies the factors causing this wide variation and develops a more consistent estimate. We conclude that the NEV of corn ethanol has been rising over time due to technological advances in ethanol conversion and increased efficiency in farm production. We show that corn ethanol is energy efficient as indicated by an energy output:input ration of 1/34.

USDA's 1998 Ethanol Cost-of-Production Survey
Hosein Shapouri, Paul Gallagher, and Michael S. Graboski. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Chief Economist, Office of Energy Policy and New Uses. Agricultural Economic Report No. 808.

In late 1999 an early 2000, USDA surveyed 28 ethanol plants, both wet and dry mills, to estimate their 1998 costs of production (net corn costs and cash variable costs). These plants processed more than 400 million bushels of corn and sorghum in 1998 to produce more than 1.1 billion gallons of ethanol. The average variable cost of production of ethanol weighted by industry sector was 93.9 cents per gallon. The net feedstock cost averaged about 53 cents per gallon for dry mills and 48 cents per gallon for wet mills.

Estimating the Net Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol
Hosein Shapouri, James A. Duffield, and Michael S. Graboski. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Office of Energy. July 1995. Agricultural Economic Report No. 721.

This study shows that producing ethanol from corn results in a net energy gain. Although the energy balance of corn ethanol may have been negative when the industry first emerged in the 1970s, this study concludes that the energy balance of corn-ethanol has become positive in recent years do to technological advances in ethanol conversion and increased efficiency in farm production.

Biodiesel Development: New Markets for Conventional and Genetically Modified Agricultural Products
James Duffield and Hosein Shapouri, Office of Energy, Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Michael Graboski and Robert McCormick, Colorado School of Mines; and Richard Wilson, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, North Carolina State University. September 1998. Agricultural Economic Report No. 770.

Concerns over domestic energy supplies has prompted policy makers to propose new policies that encourage the expansion of our nation's energy supplies, including the development of renewable fuels, such as biodiesel. This report examines the potential supply of biodiesel made from U.S. agricultural fats and oils. It looks at the feasibility of biodiesel competing with petroleum diesel and identifies niche markets that could develop for biodiesel as a result of environmental regulations and energy policies. The fuel properties of biodiesel made from various fats and oils are analyzed and there is a discussion on the potential of enhancing fuel properties by genetically modifying oil crops.