Blend wall reached: Purdue researchers say US can't distribute more first-gen ethanol; advanced biofuels the solution
In Indiana, Purdue University released a policy study suggesting that the U.S. does not have the necessary infrastructure to meet the federal mandate for renewable fuel use with ethanol, but could meet the standard with significant increases in cellulosic and next-generation biofuels.
Researchers at Purdue used U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency data to determine that the United States is currently at the saturation point for ethanol use, or “blending wall”. Without new technology or a significant increase in infrastructure, the study predicts that the country will not be able to consume more ethanol than is being currently produced.
The federal Renewable Fuel Standard requires an increase of renewable fuel production to 36 billion gallons per year by 2022. About 13 billion gallons of renewable fuel was required for 2010, the same amount the study predicts is the threshold for U.S. infrastructure and consumption ability.
Category: Policy
