Measuring sustainability in bioenergy systems Dr. Claudio Gratton Department of Entomology
June 2004 National Geographic
blog.lib.umn.edu/govref/fdlp100/federal_agencies/
Biofuels are “good”, right?
Biofuels are “good”, right? Sugarcane
Biofuels are “good”, right? Sugarcane
Grain ethanol
www.extension.iastate.edu
Biofuels are “good”, right? Oil Palm
Sugarcane
Grain ethanol
www.extension.iastate.edu
Photo by Achmad Rabin Taigam Wikimedia Commons
It depends....
It depends....
• Net energy production
It depends....
• Net energy production • Competition for food and water
It depends....
• Net energy production • Competition for food and water • Wildlife
It depends....
• Net energy production • Competition for food and water • Wildlife • Indirect land use changes • .....
Second generation biofuels • Cellulosic • Crop residues • Grasses • Woody pulp • Algae
CRP Land Blue Mound, WI
Second generation biofuels • Cellulosic • Crop residues • Grasses • Woody pulp • Algae
CRP Land Blue Mound, WI
Landscape “services”
! Energy and Economy
! Air Quality
! Water Quality
! Soils
! Food
! Human Communities
! Natural Communities
Landscape “services”
! Energy and Economy
! Air Quality
! Water Quality
! Soils
! Food
! Human Communities
! Natural Communities
How does one decide?
13)
Sustainability Index ?
www.glbrc.org)
10
14)
Net Energy
Diversity
Economics
Air Quality
Soil
Water Quality
www.glbrc.org)
11
15)
Net Energy
Diversity
Economics
Air Quality
Soil
Water Quality
www.glbrc.org)
12
16)
Net Energy
Diversity
Economics
Air Quality
Soil
Water Quality
www.glbrc.org)
13
20)
! Establish minima or ideals
Net Energy
Diversity
Economics
Net Energy
Diversity
Air Quality
Soil
Economics
Water Quality
Air Quality
Soil
Water Quality
! Sustainability Index
w1 w2 w3 w4 . . .
Si
wi
www.glbrc.org)
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