Biofuel
Energy, Greenhouse Gas, and Agricultural Impacts
People
Research
Publications
Acknowledgement
People
Research
Our current research focuses on three areas:
- Energy and greenhouse gas impacts of biofuels, with emphasis on land use impacts and the effect of co-products on calculation of energy and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Feedstock options for biofuel and bioenergy
- Effect of biofuel production on agriculture and food prices, with emphasis on developing countries.
Publications
Luo, D., Realff, M. J., and Thomas, V. M. Bioreactor-based Fuel Systems I: Optimal Production Capacity, and Bioreactor-based Fuel Systems II: Integrated or Distributed-centralized Production. (I) Submitted, and (II) in preparation for submission to Computers and Chemical Engineering.
Okwo, A., Thomas, V. M. Biomass Feedstock Contracts: Role of Land Quality and Yield Variability in Near Term Feasibility. Energy Economics 42 (March): 67-80, 2014.
Mashoko, L., Mbohwa, C., Thomas, V. M. LCA of bagasse electricity cogeneration in the South African sugar industry. Journal of Cleaner Production 39: 42-49, 2013.
Abayomi, K., Luo, D. and Thomas, V. M. Statistical Evaluation of the Effect of Ethanol in US Corn Production: A Flexible Test for Independence on a Constrained Sum. International Journal of Ecological Economics and Statistics 22(S11): 105-126, 2011.
Luo, D., Z. Hu, D. G. Choi, V. M. Thomas*, M. J. Realff, R. R. Chance. Lifecycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions for an Ethanol Production Process Based on Blue-green Algae, Environmental Science and Technology 44(22): 8670-8677, 2010.
Mashoko, L., C. Mbohwa, V. M. Thomas. Lifecycle Assessment of the South African Sugar Industry, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 53(6): 793-807, 2010.
"Relation of Biofuel to Bioelectricity and Agriculture: Food Security, Fuel Security, and Reducing Greenhouse Emissions," V. M. Thomas, D. Choi, D. Luo, A. Okwo, Chemical Engineering Research and Design 87, 1140-1146, 2009.
"Framework and Guidance for Estimating Greenhouse Gas Footprints of Aviation Fuels," D. T. Allen, C. Allport, K. Atkins, J. C. Cooper, R. M. Dilmore, L. C. Draucker, K. E. Eichmann, J. C. Gillen, W. Gillette, W. M. Griffin, W. E. Harrison, J. Hileman, J. R. Ingham, F. A. Kimler, A. Levy, C. F. Murphy, M. J. O’Donnell, D. Pamplin, G. Schivley, T. K. Skone, S. M. Strank, R. W. Stratton, P. H. Taylor, V. M. Thomas, M. Wang, T. Zidow. U. S. Air Force, AFRL-RZ-WP-TR-2009-2206, April 2009.
Acknowledgement
This research is supported by
Algenol Biofuels
US Air Force
Chevron Technology Ventures
State of Georgia Traditional Industries Program
Anderson Fund of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering
National Research Foundation of South Africa