Isn fossil energy required to produce bioethanol, and won this offset the environmental benefits?
According to current studies, the net savings of CO2 far outweigh the minor CO2 emissions released during bioethanol production. Brazil, one of the largest producers of bioethanol in the world, makes and consumes bioethanol with an 80%-90% net saving of fossil carbon dioxide. A report from Chalmers University in Sweden demonstrates that 2% fossil energy is required to produce bioethanol from pulp residues in Sweden, which means there is a 98% net reduction of fossil CO2. In future large-scale ethanol production from cellulose or grain, Swedish researchers predict a net reduction in fossil carbon dioxide of 90%-95% and 50%-70% respectively.
