Canadian-made ethanol and biodiesel significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new report.
The study conducted by Cheminfo Services Inc. concludes that ethanol reduces greenhouse gases by 62 percent compared to gasoline, and biodiesel reduces greenhouse gases by 99 percent compared to petroleum diesel.
It is the first study of its kind to focus exclusively on Canadian biofuel facilities.
“This report clearly demonstrates that we are achieving the environmental benefits that we’ve always suggested we would,” said Gordon Quaiattini, president of the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association.
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“This is good news for the environment. This is also good news for farmers and the economy and good news for Canadian drivers.”
The study, which was paid for by the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, used the most recent version of Natural Resources Canada’s GHGenius life cycle assessment model for transportation fuel in making the comparisons.
Ted Stoner, the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute western division vice-president, said his member companies are not convinced GHGenius is the appropriate life cycle model for these types of comparisons.
“Our first question is, ‘how come the same numbers don’t come out of the United States,’” he said.
In the U.S., some state and federal government agencies are using the Greenhouse Gases, Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation (GREET) life cycle model.
Stoner said his members, who operate on both sides of the border, are confused by the different life cycle models that produce different results.
Quaiattini said GHGenius and GREET produce similar numbers. The U.S. Renewable Fuels Association used GREET to calculate a 60 percent reduction in greenhouse gases.
He said Canada’s reductions are slightly better because its plants are more modern.
The Cheminfo study was based on an analysis of six corn ethanol plants in Eastern Canada, two wheat ethanol plants in Western Canada and three tallow biodiesel plants in Eastern Canada.
The analysis did not include the indirect land use factor, a theory that grain grown for ethanol production in one part of the world can cause deforestation in another part of the world as farmers attempt to make up for the shortfall in food grain.
“Once you start incorporating the indirect land use change, then the numbers change dramatically,” Stoner said.
Quaiattini said no life cycle models use the indirect land use factor because it is a guess based on flawed assumptions, such as the idea that the global agriculture industry is operating at full capacity.
“We know that isn’t the case at all,” he said.
Quaiattini said the CRFA will use the Cheminfo study when asking the federal government to expand the ethanol and biodiesel mandates.
“It is part of telling our story,” he said.
