Corn Ethanol Carbon Intensity Calculator
How to use this calculator:
• Enter values into all yellow boxes below.
• All pre-populated User Specified Values are DoE GREET values.
• Do not refresh the page while using the calculator. Refreshing the page will reset all values back to default.
• Use Tab key to move to the next box.
Yields - Corn, Ethanol & Energy
Carbon Credit $/ton$ | |||||||
Corn, Ethanol and Energy Yield | California GREET Default Value |
Megajoules/acre | DoE GREET Default Value |
Megajoules/acre | User Specified Value | Megajoules/acre | Megajoules/bushel |
166 | 178.4 |
(Enter Farm Average Corn Yield) |
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2.882 | 2.864 | Enter Ethanol Plant Ethanol yield (gal/bu) (from local Ethanol plant) |
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Ethanol Yield (gallons/acre) | 478 | 38528 | 511 | 41147 |
Corn Farming Input Parameters
Corn Production Fuels & Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel, Ethanol % Blend | Gram GHGs /gal, ft3, kWh | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
4.9 | 1.54 | 7.22 | 2.13 |
12140 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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1.7 | 1.66 | 1.28 | 0.33 |
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174.4 | 0.36 | 87.0 | 0.17 |
80 |
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2.7 | 0.5 | 2.2 | 0.37 |
6965 |
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17 | 0.21 | 69.3 | 0.74 |
439 |
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Corn Production Energy Totals | 4.25 |
3.74 |
Corn Transportation Fuel Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel % Blend | g GHGs /bushel | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
10 | 0.73 | 10 | 0.37 |
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40 | 1.77 | 40 | 0.83 |
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Corn Transportation Energy Totals | 2.5 |
1.2 |
Nitrogen Fertilizer Manufacture and Transportation Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Gram GHGs per unit N Fertilizer | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
43.4 | 2.0 | 49 | 1.71 |
1437 |
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32.2 | 1.8 | 36.3 | 1.66 |
1886 |
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2.8 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 0.24 |
3038 |
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2.8 | 0.1 | 3.2 | 0.12 |
1588 |
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44.8 | 3.5 | 50.5 | 3.27 |
2661 |
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Nitrogen in MAP (11-52-0) Fertilizer (lbs.actual Units N/acre) | 5.6 | 0.1 | 6.3 | 0.29 |
211 |
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Nitrogen in DAP (18-46-0) Fertilizer (lbs. actual N/acre) | 8.4 | 0.2 | 9.5 | 0.5 |
386 |
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Nitrogen Totals | 140.1 | 8.4 |
158 | 7.79 |
Units N/acre | |||||
Lbs./bushel |
Annual Precipitation, Enhanced Efficiency N (EEFs), and 4R (Right Form, Right Place Right Time, Right Rate) N Fertilizer Management impacts on Nitrous Oxide
Climate and N Management Factors Influencing N2O Emissions | |||||||||||
N2O from Fertilizer and Crop Residue Nitrogen | GREET 2021 Default N2O g/Mj by Fertilizer Source | Precip. (inches) | EEFs | Fertilizer Form | Application Placement | Application Timing | Total N Rate | N2O g/Mj | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) | 3.09 |
Am.
|
In Soil
|
a |
b |
c |
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Granular Urea | 2.29 |
Am.
|
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Ammonium Nitrate | 0.2 |
50-50
|
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Ammonium Sulfate (AMS) | 0.2 |
Am.
|
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Urea Ammonium Nitrate Solutions | 3.19 |
75-50
|
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Nitrogen in Phosphate Fertilizer (MAP & DAP) | 1 |
Am.
|
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Total N2O from Nitrogen Fertilizer (g/Mj) | 9.97 |
Precip. | C:N Ratio | Total Nitrogen Fertilizer N2O | |||||||
Total N2O From Crop Residue (g/Mj) | 3.23 |
< 25 | Total Corn Residue Nitrogen N2O | ||||||||
Total N2O (g/Mj) | 13.2 |
Total N2O |
Phosphate Fertilizer Manufacture & Transportation Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Gram GHGs per unit P2O5 | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
26.5 | 0.42 | 29.6 | 0.72 |
999 |
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52.6 | 0.55 | 29.6 | 0.59 |
826 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
920 |
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Phosphate Totals - Units P2O5 per acre | 79.1 | 0.97 |
59.2 | 1.31 |
Potash Fertilizer Manufacture & Transportation Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Gram GHGs per unit K2O | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
53.6 | 0.47 |
59.9 | 0.36 |
245 |
Lime for Soil pH Correction – Manufacture & Transportation Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Gram GHGs per lb CaCO3 | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
472.2 | 0.058 | 573 | 0.06 |
0.02431 |
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Soil CO2 emissions due to Lime use | 1.38 |
1.37 |
0.52612 |
1.37 |
Herbicide Manufacture & Transportation Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Gram GHGs per lb Herbicide | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
2.14 | 0.52 |
2.3 | 0.47 |
8420 |
Insecticide Manufacture & Transportation Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Gram GHGs per lb Insecticide | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
0.0046 | 0.001 |
0.0049 | 0.0012 |
9938 |
Credit for Soil Organic Carbon SequestrationACE is working with the Department of Energy to include a soil organic credit, which is not currently part of GREET.
Michigan State University Cropland GHG Calculator
Go to this web address: http://carboncalculator.kbs.msu.edu/ 1 Locate and click on your county on the interactive map. 2 Enter your crop. 3 Enter your yield. 4 Enter your tillage method. 5 Record the number under 'Soil' and enter that number in the yellow box below. Your results will be shown in Grams/Megajoule in green. |
Metric tons CO2/acre | g/MJ | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
|
SUBTOTAL: Upstream Corn Production Totals | California GREET Default Value 33.3 |
DoE GREET Default Value 29.3 |
User Specified Value |
Ethanol Plant Energy Use
Ethanol Plant Energy Use (California GREET & DoE GREET 2021 Midwest Average values from Industry Surveys) |
California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Grams /gallon | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
28408 | 25.7 |
24628 | 22.2 |
NA | ||||||
0.89 | 2.8 |
0.63 | 2.95 |
NA | ||||||
28.4 |
25.2 |
Electricity Grid CI Multiplication Factor | NA |
Ethanol Plant Chemical Manufacture & Transportation Emissions
Ethanol Plant Chemical Manufacture & Transportation Emissions (California GREET & DoE GREET 2021 Midwest Average values from Industry Surveys) |
California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Grams /gallon | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
330 | 0.047 |
330 | 0.047 | NA | ||||||
710 | 0.46 | 710 | 0.46 |
NA | ||||||
360 | 0.092 | 360 | 0.092 |
NA | ||||||
554 | 0.003 | 554 | 0.003 |
NA | ||||||
2123 | 0.59 | 2123 | 0.59 |
NA | ||||||
2663 | 0.65 | 2663 | 0.65 |
NA | ||||||
1270 | 0.17 | 1270 | 0.17 |
NA | ||||||
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
NA | ||||||
Ethanol Plant Chemical Total | 2.01 |
2.01 |
NA |
Ethanol Transportation Emissions
Ethanol Transportation Emissions (California GREET values for Midwest Ethanol to California, GREET 2021 values for Midwest Ethanol, User Specified for Ethanol consumed) |
California GREET Default Value (to California) |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value (U.S. Average) |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Values for Your Specific Destinations |
Grams /gallon | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
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Ethanol Plant to Bulk Terminal | Miles | Miles | % | Miles | % | |||||||
0 | 0 | 520 | 13.2% | 0.12 |
% | NA | ||||||
1400 | 1.51 | 800 | 78.9% | 0.68 |
% | NA | ||||||
80 | 0.44 | 80 | 7.9% | 0.03 |
% | NA | ||||||
Bulk Terminal to Refueling Station | ||||||||||||
90 | 0.49 | 30 | 100% | 0.16 |
100% | NA | ||||||
Ethanol Transportation Totals | 2.44 |
1 |
NA |
Denaturant Use Emissions
Denaturant Use Emissions | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | Grams /gallon | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
|
2% | 0.9 |
2% | 1.2 |
% | |||||||
SUBTOTAL: Ethanol Plant Energy, Chemicals, Transportation & Denaturant
$/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
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Ethanol Plant Energy, Chemicals, Transportation & Den. | 33.78 |
29.4 |
Co-Product Credits
Midwest average GREET Source: RFA Industry Survey (US Dry Mills)
Co-Product Credits | California GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | DoE GREET Default Value |
CI (g/MJ) | User Specified Value | CI (g/MJ) | CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
4 | -9.2 | 3.25 |
-7.66 |
NA | |||||
1.2 | -4.8 | 1.36 |
-3.2 |
NA | |||||
0.2 | 0 | 0.27 | 0 |
NA | |||||
Co-Product Credit Totals | 5.3 | -14 |
4.9 | -10.86 |
NA |
International and Domestic Land Use Change Penalty
This penalty includes emissions from soil organic carbon losses and N2O emissions.
CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
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Indirect Land Use Change | CARB 2015 | 19.8 |
GREET CCLUB 2021 | 7.38 |
User option of GREET default or most recent CCLUB factor of 3.71 |
Credit for Carbon Capture and Sequestration
Based on 2020 USDA report, this value results in an approximately 25 gram credit.
Current CCS technology providers place the credit value as high as 30 to 35 grams.
$/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
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Grand Totals
CI Change from GREET Default | $/Gal.CI Reduction Value |
$/Acre CI Reduction Value |
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User Specified Carbon Intensity -3.2 Reset Values to Default |
Notes & Sources:
This Calculator borrows heavily from the U.S. Department of Energy GREET Model and the GREET 2020 Corn Feedstock Carbon Intensity Calculator
- California & DoE GREET Midwest Average Corn Yield from From: USDA NASS (National Agriculture Statistics Service)
- California & DoE GREET Midwest avg. Fuel Useage From: USDA Report - "2015 Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol"
- California & DoE GREET Midwest avg. Fuel Useage From: USDA Report - "2015 Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol"
- All California GREET and DoE GREET 2021 Midwest avg. Fertilizer & Pesticide values in "lbs/acre" from: USDA ERS (Economic Research Service) Reports & USDA NASS
- Direct N Fertilizer N2O Emissions Factor Indirect N2O Emissions factors from IPPC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
- All California GREET and DoE GREET 2021 Midwest avg.
- Fertilizer & Pesticide values in "lbs/acre" from: USDA ERS (Economic Research Service) Reports & USDA NASS
- USDA Report - "2015 Energy Balance of Corn Ethanol"
- USDA NASS State Specific Herbicide & Insectide Use
- https://quickstats.nass.usda.gov