Cellulosic Biofuel Potential Under Land Constraints: Locations, Plant Sizes and Feedstock Supply Costs

Alicia Rosburg, John Miranowski and Keri Jacobs

Staff General Research Papers Archive from Iowa State University, Department of Economics

Abstract: We develop a long-run cost model for cellulosic biofuel production that accounts for locational differences in biomass production conditions. The cost model minimizes the per-gallon cost of biofuel when feedstock costs vary within local biomass-producing regions and plant size is determined by local feedstock supply and size economies. Applying the model, we estimate U.S. ethanol supply costs from both corn stover and switchgrass. Model results are used to identify the locations and specific plant sizes from which stover-and switchgrass-based ethanol would meet cellulosic biofuel targets at least cost.

Keywords: biofuel; biomass; cellulosic ethanol; land use; switchgrass; corn stover; RFS2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q11 Q16 Q41 Q42 Q48 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013-08-13
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-agr
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Working Paper: Cellulosic biofuel potential under land constraints: locations, plant sizes and feedstock supply costs (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:isu:genres:36358

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