Case Study 2

How Cellulosic Ethanol Fraction Impacts Carbon Intensity

case study 2

How Does Cellulosic Ethanol Fraction Impact Carbon Intensity?

What are the carbon intensity differences between starch ethanol and cellulosic ethanol, and how does increasing cellulosic ethanol fraction affect overall CI scores?

The CI score associated with cellulosic ethanol is significantly lower than starch ethanol – under 30 g CO2 eq./MJ compared to over 70 g CO2 eq./MJ for starch ethanol.

Conclusion: Increasing the amount of cellulosic ethanol a plant makes would lower the CI score in the fuel ethanol process1.

cellulosic ethanol fraction
Cellulosic Ethanol Fraction (%)

¹ Assumptions: CI scores calculated using CA GREET v. 3.0. Corn farming and ethanol distribution input parameters based on ethanol.org calculator. CI scores calculated assuming 3% cellulosic ethanol fraction baseline.

 

For informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or regulatory advice. The content reflects IFF’s interpretation of public policies, tax credits, and modeling outputs based on publicly available sources and internal data as of August 2025. Consult legal, tax, or compliance professionals before making decisions based on this material. Financial figures, credit values, and CI score projections are illustrative and may vary depending on plant-specific conditions, regulatory updates, and market dynamics. Predictive modeling results (e.g., CI score reductions, energy savings) are based on assumptions and tools such as CA GREET v3.0 and IFF’s proprietary XCELIS® AI platform. These outputs are not guarantees of performance. References to third-party companies, government agencies, or regulatory approvals are based on publicly available data and do not imply endorsement or current compliance status. IFF disclaims any liability for actions taken based on this information. For specific guidance, please consult appropriate legal, financial, or technical advisors.

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