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Environmental economic analysis of the large scale biofuels production : an application of MSIASEM

Research Project

Project/Area Number 18530178
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field Applied economics
Research InstitutionThe University of Tokushima

Principal Investigator

MAYUMI Kozo  The University of Tokushima, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, Professor (40253182)

Project Period (FY) 2006 – 2007
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2007)
Budget Amount *help
¥2,830,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2007: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000)
Fiscal Year 2006: ¥1,400,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,400,000)
Keywordsbiofuels / viable technology / ethanol / energy analysis / environmental loading / 自律的技術
Research Abstract

Many researchers claim that large scale biofuels production is a desirable and viable alternative to fossil fuels. This research examines whether or not large scale biofuels production is either feasible or desirable for developed society based on multi-scale integrated analysis of societal and ecosystem metabolism. After providing a brief introduction to the subject matter to be investigated in this research, two metaphors are used to explain why biomass energy was abandoned during the industrial revolution in the first place: (1) the Yin-Yang tension between recycling(to increase ecological compatibility)and linearization(to increase economic competitiveness)of the flows metabolized by society: (2) the energy sector of a society seen like the heart for the human body. Metaphorically speaking, an alternative viable heart must deliver the supply of blood which is expected by the rest of the body both in terms of quantity and quality. It is concluded that for a developed society not everything that can be burned should be considered as a desirable fuel and provides a framework for such an evaluation. Then we provide a critical appraisal of the option biofuels as an alternative to oil The high labor and land demand per net unit of biofuel delivered to society makes this option not compatible with the typical patterns of metabolism found in developed societies. In relation to ecological compatibility, fossil energy made it possible for the first time in the history of humankind to generate problems on the sink side (accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere) rather than on the supply side (structural damage to the ecological processes of conversions of solar energy over cycles of nutrients). Agreeing on the fact that humans must find a substitute for fossil energy does not entail that this substitute should be biofuels.

Report

(3 results)
  • 2007 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report Summary
  • 2006 Annual Research Report
  • Research Products

    (5 results)

All 2007 2006

All Journal Article (5 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 2 results)

  • [Journal Article] How serious is the addiction to oil of developed society?2007

    • Author(s)
      Mario Giampietro
    • Journal Title

      International Journal of Transdisciplinary Research 2

      Pages: 42-91

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] How serious is the addiction to oil of developed society?2007

    • Author(s)
      Mario, Giampietro, et. al.
    • Journal Title

      International Journal of Transdisciplinary Research Vol.2

      Pages: 42-92

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary
  • [Journal Article] On China's exosomatic energy metabolism2007

    • Author(s)
      Jesus Ramos-Martin
    • Journal Title

      Ecological Economics 63

      Pages: 174-191

    • Related Report
      2007 Annual Research Report
  • [Journal Article] Can biofuels replace fossil energy fuels?2006

    • Author(s)
      Mario Giampietro
    • Journal Title

      International Journal of Transdisciplinary Research 1

      Pages: 51-87

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary 2006 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Journal Article] Can biofuels replace fossil energy fuels?2006

    • Author(s)
      Mario, Giampietro, et. al.
    • Journal Title

      International Journal of Transdiscipliary Research Vol.1

      Pages: 51-87

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
    • Related Report
      2007 Final Research Report Summary

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Published: 2006-04-01   Modified: 2016-04-21  

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