Sustainable Renewable Fuels Seminar

Speaker: Professor Amy Landis, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh. Abstract: In most cases, biofuels exhibit environmental benefits in the form of fewer greenhouse gas emissions and less nonrenewable fossil fuels usage when compared to their petro-counterparts. Research on the sustainability and environmental implications of these renewable fuels has been measured primarily based on reductions in emissions related to the carbon cycle (greenhouse gases and fossil fuels). Important tradeoffs have been neglected, such as eutrophication and hypoxia caused primarily in the US by agricultural runoff. As society increases its reliance on bio-based resources, it is important to critically examine these non-carbon based environmental stresses and to determine methods for reducing the resultant negative rebound effects. This presentation evaluates the environmental tradeoffs for a variety of biofuels (i.e. ethanol, biodiesel) from a variety of feedstocks (i.e. corn, corn stover, soybeans, switchgrass, sugar cane, rapeseed, algae, woody biomass) with respect to many environmental impacts of concern, including human health and eutrophication (and global warming). This talk will also evaluate the environmental impacts from meeting the Renewable Fuel Standards set forth in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. We will also discuss strategies that may reduce the life cycle environmental footprint of biofuels. (Prof. Landis' website)

Sponsored by the Engineering Systems Division, MIT Energy Campus Events, and Materials Systems Lab.