Sustainability Assessment of Renewable Energy in the United States, Canada, the European Union, China, and the Russian Federation

Abstract

Biomass is the oldest resource of energy for humans, and its use could slow the depletion rate of fossil fuel reserves and enable the development of sustainable energy and the chemical industry. The sustainability of the replacement of natural gas, crude oil, and coal with corn-based bioethanol was assessed by using the ethanol equivalents (EE) of fossil fuel resources used in the United States, Canada, the European Union, China, and the Russian Federation in 2008–2014. The calculations were based on first generation corn-based bioethanol technology as commercially practiced in the United States in 2008. Based on the EE2.3 values, the required volume of corn and the corresponding size of land were calculated and compared with the actual lands used for corn production, which is only enough to replace one-sixth of the fossil fuel resources in the United States, European Union, and China and practically insufficient in Canada and the Russian Federation. Until the utilization of electricity becomes practical and economical in aviation, biomass-based liquid fuels could be the sustainable alternative. The assessment of the replacement of natural gas, crude oil, and coal-based energy with renewable energy in these countries in 2008–2014 shows that a significant increase in the renewable energy portfolio is required.