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ARS Home » Plains Area » Mandan, North Dakota » Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #361400
Research Project: Sustainable Agricultural Systems for the Northern Great Plains

Location: Northern Great Plains Research Laboratory

Title: Analysis of renewable jet fuel from oilseed replacing fallow in the U.S. Northern Great Plains

Author
item SHI, RUI - Michigan Technological University
item Archer, David
item POKHAREL, KRISHNA - Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
item PEARLSON, MATTHEW - Volpe, The National Transportation Systems Center
item LEWIS, KRISTIN - Volpe, The National Transportation Systems Center
item UKAEW, SUCHADA - Naresuan University
item SHONNARD, DAVID - Michigan Technological University

Submitted to: Journal of Environmental Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/2019
Publication Date: 12/2/2019
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/6776571
Citation: Shi, R., Archer, D.W., Pokharel, K.P., Pearlson, M., Lewis, K.C., Ukaew, S., Shonnard, D.R. 2019. Analysis of renewable jet fuel from oilseed replacing fallow in the U.S. Northern Great Plains. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology. 7:18753-18764. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b02150.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b02150

Interpretive Summary: Jet fuels have been made from oilseeds crops and could be used to replace fossil fuels. However, there are concerns about “food versus fuel” and land use competition for these fuels. To avoid displacing other crops and improve sustainability, this study looks at growing the oilseeds in place of fallow in non-irrigated areas. Oilseed supply and natural resource impacts were evaluated in the U.S. Northern Great Plains. Results show that growing oilseeds in place of fallow reduces greenhouse gas emissions and increases soil carbon. Farm profits from this transition could boost both oilseed jet fuel production and farmer incomes. This information is useful to farmers, bioenergy industry, and policy makers in targeting oilseed crops and renewable fuel production to achieve economic and environmental benefits.

Technical Abstract: ‘Food versus fuel’ issue coupled with potential land use change impacts has been of a concern for producing biomass-derived fuels. To avoid displacing crop production and achieve overall sustainability, this study considers north central and western U.S. non-irrigated wheat-growing states for integration of oilseed that fits well into rotations with existing grain food crops for jet fuel production. We conducted analyses showing oilseed supply and natural resource impacts based on 2,326 9km x 9km grid cells in the U.S. Northern Great Plains and further examined the environmental impact based on a variety of model-based inputs from the stress trials, soil and water characteristics, biorefinery processes, and optimal transportation routes. Results show that introducing fuel oilseeds to existing crop rotations have significant advantages regarding global warming potential, with considerable soil carbon savings from replacing the fallow period. Total net revenue from this land transition also creates opportunities to boost oilseed jet fuel production and farmer incomes.