Unintended consequences of bioethanol feedstock choice in China

Economic, energy, and environmental impacts of 11 types of bioethanol feedstock in China were evaluated using a mixed-unit input–output life cycle assessment model. Corn grain and wheat grain had higher negative economic, energy, and environmental impacts. Sweet sorghum, cassava, sugar beet, and sugarcane showed better economic performance but increasing negative energy and environmental impacts. Cellulose-based feedstocks in general showed positive economic, energy, and environmental performance; but may lead to increasing negative impacts on freshwater use, global warming, toxicity, and aquatic ecotoxicity. Sugarcane-based bioethanol had the potential to provide positive economic, energy, and environmental impacts in China. Scrap paper-derived ethanol could also become promising under significant government support.

► Corn grain and wheat grain had bad performances. ► Sugarcane was the possible hitting-point of sugar-based feedstocks. ► Cellulose-based feedstocks had good performances. ► Environmental problem-shifting in ethanol production should be considered. ► Key processes were identified for solving potential environmental problems.