Impact/Purpose:

The overall goal of this project is to develop small-scale, distributed ethanol production systems in the context of closed-loop, diversified agricultural production systems. This project will be applied to the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV) as an approach to achieve energy independence and sustainable development in the region. Significant technical innovation is required to develop small scale, low-input and reliable systems for bioenergy conversion.

Description:

1. The small scale sweet sorghum ethanol production system in Iowa has good potential for development based on an economic analysis with rates of return ranging from 12% to 32 % for ethanol prices ranging from $1.66/gal to $2.20/gal. A scale of 300 acres (121 ha) for producing sweet sorghum is reasonable based anticipated equipment size and capital costs.
2. Sweet sorghum ethanol has advantages over corn grain ethanol because its expected yield is two times or more greater than corn grain and its energy balance is substantially greater. Disadvantages include a currently undeveloped infrastructure and the instability of the fermentable carbohydrates produced by sweet sorghum.
3. From a technology perspective, the greatest need for development is in the area of sweet sorghum harvesting and juice extraction. While much has been done in this area for the sugarcane industry, little knowledge is available for sweet sorghum.
4. For the Brazil context, the small scale ethanol production system is feasible from a technology standpoint and could be implemented without substantial changes in the lives of the agricultural producers. The most substantial barriers exist in the formation of a proper business relationship, such as a cooperative, for ethanol collection, purchase, distillation, and final sale, as well as legal barriers to cooperative sale due to the regulation of the ethanol distribution industry.
5. Because this project involved international collaboration, the participants have been able take ideas from one cultural context and apply them to another culture. This type of experience has been extremely very rewarding and has helped develop cultural adaptability competency in the members of the student team. Lessons learned will continue to be incorporated into other courses.

URLs/Downloads:

Final Progress Report

Record Details:

Record Type:PROJECT( ABSTRACT )

Start Date:09/01/2007

Completion Date:08/31/2008

Record ID: 187166

Show Additional Record Data

Related Organizations:

Role :OWNER

Organization Name :FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF VICOSA

Mailing Address :Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil



Role :OWNER

Organization Name :IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Citation :Ames

State :IA

Zip Code :50011

Project Information:

Approach :

From a systems analysis of the UFV energy system, small-scale distributed ethanol production emerged as a sustainable and attainable approach to providing a renewable and sustainable source of transportation fuel for the UFV fleet of vehicles. In particular, the students implementing this project will (1) design and build low-cost, small scale fermentation and distillation systems and (2) use systems level economic and life-cycle models to analyze the effects of such technologies on regional sustainability factors such as land use, producer income, and carbon emissions. This project benefits people since local farmers, the majority of which are small, low-income agricultural producers, must be engaged as suppliers of ethanol. Prosperity is addressed because a local, renewable source of fuel benefits both the local community and the university through creation of jobs and reallocation of resources. Displacement of petroleum based sources of transportation fuel benefits the planet through reduction of CO₂ emissions. The technology developed through this project will be demonstrated at both UFV and Iowa State University and be integrated into sustainable engineering and biorenewables course modules. The technology developed through the project is expected to promote regional development through job creation and increased utilization of locally produced agricultural commodities. Project evaluation will be based on the adoption of the technology developed.

Cost :$13,536.00

Research Component :Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Approach :

From a systems analysis of the UFV energy system, small-scale distributed ethanol production emerged as a sustainable and attainable approach to providing a renewable and sustainable source of transportation fuel for the UFV fleet of vehicles. In particular, the students implementing this project will (1) design and build low-cost, small scale fermentation and distillation systems and (2) use systems level economic and life-cycle models to analyze the effects of such technologies on regional sustainability factors such as land use, producer income, and carbon emissions. This project benefits people since local farmers, the majority of which are small, low-income agricultural producers, must be engaged as suppliers of ethanol. Prosperity is addressed because a local, renewable source of fuel benefits both the local community and the university through creation of jobs and reallocation of resources. Displacement of petroleum based sources of transportation fuel benefits the planet through reduction of CO₂ emissions. The technology developed through this project will be demonstrated at both UFV and Iowa State University and be integrated into sustainable engineering and biorenewables course modules. The technology developed through the project is expected to promote regional development through job creation and increased utilization of locally produced agricultural commodities. Project evaluation will be based on the adoption of the technology developed.

Cost :$13,536.00

Research Component :P3 Challenge Area - Energy

Project IDs:

ID Code :SU833537

Project type :EPA Grant