TY - JOUR
T1 - A Resilience perspective on biofuel production
AU - Mu, Dongyan
AU - Seager, Thomas P.
AU - Rao, P. Suresh C.
AU - Park, Jeryang
AU - Zhao, Fu
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - The recent investment boom and collapse of the corn ethanol industry calls into question the long-term sustainability of traditional approaches to biofuel technologies. Compared with petroleum-based transportation fuels, biofuel production systems are more closely connected to complex and variable natural systems. Especially as biofeedstock production itself becomes more independent of fossil fuel-based supports, stochasticity will become an increasingly important, inherent feature of biofuel feedstock production systems. Accordingly, a fundamental change in design philosophy is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the biofuels industry. To respond effectively to unexpected disruptions, the new approach will require systems to be designed for resilience (indicated by diversity, efficiency, cohesion, and adaptability) rather than more narrowly defined measures of efficiency. This paper addresses important concepts in the design of coupled engineering-ecological systems (resistance, resilience, adaptability, and transformability) and examines biofuel conversion technologies from a resilience perspective. Conversion technologies that can accommodate multiple feedstocks and final products are suggested to enhance the diversity and flexibility of the entire industry.
AB - The recent investment boom and collapse of the corn ethanol industry calls into question the long-term sustainability of traditional approaches to biofuel technologies. Compared with petroleum-based transportation fuels, biofuel production systems are more closely connected to complex and variable natural systems. Especially as biofeedstock production itself becomes more independent of fossil fuel-based supports, stochasticity will become an increasingly important, inherent feature of biofuel feedstock production systems. Accordingly, a fundamental change in design philosophy is necessary to ensure the long-term viability of the biofuels industry. To respond effectively to unexpected disruptions, the new approach will require systems to be designed for resilience (indicated by diversity, efficiency, cohesion, and adaptability) rather than more narrowly defined measures of efficiency. This paper addresses important concepts in the design of coupled engineering-ecological systems (resistance, resilience, adaptability, and transformability) and examines biofuel conversion technologies from a resilience perspective. Conversion technologies that can accommodate multiple feedstocks and final products are suggested to enhance the diversity and flexibility of the entire industry.
KW - Carbon-to-liquid fuels
KW - Conversion
KW - Corn ethanol
KW - Thermochemical
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79960713006&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/ieam.165
DO - 10.1002/ieam.165
M3 - Article
C2 - 21309075
AN - SCOPUS:79960713006
SN - 1551-3793
VL - 7
SP - 348
EP - 359
JO - Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
JF - Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
IS - 3
ER -