Date of Award
2020
Publisher
North Dakota State University
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Awarded
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Program
Transportation and Logistics
Department
Transportation, Logistics and Finance
College
Business
Faculty Advisor
Szmerekovsky, Joseph
Description
Given the increasing demand for energy, climate change, and environmental concern of fossil fuels, it is becoming increasingly significant to find alternative renewable energy sources. Bioethanol as one sort of cellulosic biofuel produced from lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks has shown great potential as a renewable resource. Delivering a competitive, sustainable biofuel product requires comprehensive supply chain planning and design. Developing economically and environmentally optimal supply chain models is necessary in this context. Also, designing biomass bioethanol supply chain (BBSC) models addressing social issues requires using second-generation biomass which is not a source of food for humans. Currently, corn as a first-generation feedstock is the primary source of bioethanol in the United States which has given growth to new social issues such as the food versus fuel debate. Considering incentives for first-generation bioethanol producers to switch to second-generation biomass and associated production technologies will help to address such social issues. The scope of this study focuses on analyzing economic and environmental market incentives for second-generation bioethanol producers while considering different carbon policies as penalties and restrictions for emissions coming from BBSC activities. First, we develop an integrated life cycle emission and energy optimization model for analyzing an entire second-generation bioethanol supply chain using switchgrass as the source of biomass while finding the most appropriate potential locations for building new cellulosic biorefineries in North Dakota. Second, we propose a supply chain model by comparing a first-generation (corn) and a second-generation (corn stover) bioethanol supply chain to analyze how policymakers can incentivize first-generation bioethanol producers to switch their technology and biomass supply from first-generation to second-generation biomass. Third, we develop the model further by investigating the impact of four different carbon policies including the carbon tax, carbon cap, carbon cap-and-trade, and carbon offset on the supply chain strategic and operational decisions. This research will help to design robust BBSCs focused on sustainability in order to optimally utilize second-generation biomass resources in the future. The findings can be utilized by renewable energy policy decision makers, bioethanol producers, and investors to operate in a competitive market while protecting the environment.
Recommended Citation
Haji Esmaeili, Seyed Ali, "A Market Incentives Analysis of Sustainable Biomass Bioethanol Supply Chains with Carbon Policies" (2020). Transportation Logistics and Finance. 33.
https://digitalcommons.ndsu.edu/transport-logistics-finance/33
Rights
NDSU policy 190.6.2
Rights Link
https://www.ndsu.edu/fileadmin/policy/190.pdf
Author ORCID Identifier
0000-0002-1195-6599
Handle Identifier
https://hdl.handle.net/10365/31869