Canadian Biofuels Life Cycle Assessment

A report¹ by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association that provides a life cycle analysis? for biofuels production in Canada shows that ethanol emits 62% fewer greenhouse gases than conventional fossil fuel. The figure for biodiesel was a 99% reduction over conventional fuel. The analysis takes into consideration all stages of the fuels' production from planting a crop to burning the fuel.

The report rebuts a key argument against producing biofuels that says they use more energy than they generate. The Assocation says that the report clearly demonstrates that by producing biofuels there is a significant reduction in greenhouse gases.

The report was commissioned by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association and conducted by Cheminfo and looks at the 2008-2009 time period.

External links and references:

¹ Life Cycle Assessment of Renewable Fuel Production from Canadian Biofuel Plants for 2008-2009