Creating Markets for Green Biofuels: Measuring and improving environmental performance

This study describes how some biofuels are produced, emphasizing agricultural production systems, and considers what is needed in order to measure and communicate environmental performance, and gives examples of how this might be done. We describe a set of seven uses of a Green Biofuels Index, from a wholly market-driven implementation through a set of increasingly intrusive regulatory approaches. We then present several case studies of specific biofuel production pathways using a lifecycle analysis of the inputs to feedstock production and processing, but excluding market-mediated effects. We recommend four steps to create markets for green biofuels: 1. Measure the global warming intensity of biofuels. 2. Measure the overall environmental performance of biomass feedstock production. 3. Develop and implement a combined Green Biofuels Index. 4. Research better practices, assessment tools, and assurance methods. Creating Markets for Green Biofuels: Measuring and improving environmental performance Brian T. Turner1,2, Richard J. Plevin1, Michael O’Hare2, Alexander E. Farrell1,3 RESEARCH REPORT UCB-ITS-TSRC-RR-2007-1 April 2007 1Energy and Resources Group, UC Berkeley 2Richard and Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy 3UC Berkeley Transportation Sustainability Research Center The Transportation Sustainability Research Center fosters research, education, and outreach so that transportation can serve to improve economic growth, environmental quality and equity. It is housed at the UC Berkeley Institute of Transportation Studies. http://www.its.berkeley.edu/sustainabilitycenter/ Creating Markets for Green Biofuels Brian T. Turner, Richard J. Plevin, Michael O’Hare, Alexander E. Farrell Energy and Resources Group, UC Berkeley; Richard & Rhoda Goldman School of Public Policy, UC Berkeley This research was partially supported by the Natural Resources Defense Council, National Science Foundation's Climate Decision Making Center at Carnegie Mellon University (SES-034578) (to Farrell) and Graduate Research Fellowship program (to Jones and Plevin) and the Goldman School of Public Policy (to O’Hare). However the view and opinions herein, as well as any remaining errors, are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily represent the views of the sponsors. Creating Markets For Green Biofuels ii Table of contents Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ v