BESS

A Model for Life-Cycle Energy & Emissions Analysis of
Corn-Ethanol Biofuel Production Systems

The BESS model is a software tool to calculate the energy efficiency, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and natural resource requirements of corn–to-ethanol biofuel production systems. The model provides a “cradle-to-grave” analysis of the production life-cycle of biofuels from the creation of material inputs to finished products. The model parameters can be set by the user to achieve the highest accuracy in evaluating a single corn-ethanol biorefinery and its surrounding feedstock crop production zone. The model equations and summary reports are unalterable, providing the characteristics needed to serve as certification software to evaluate the environmental impact of biofuels for industry advancement

The New & Hot... Free download of the BESS model (ver. 2008.3.0) BESS model User's Guide (pdf file) Slide show about the BESS model Media report about the BESS model UNL unveils tool to assess biofuel plant environmental performance Cover story in July 2007 issue of Ethanol Producer Magazine BIOconversion Blog Publication and presentations Presentation in Dept Agronomy & Horticulture, UNL on 4/18/08 Memo to the California Air Resources Board Presentation in UC-Davis, March 14, 2008 Presentation to California Air Resources Board, Sacramento, CA, January 17, 2008 Poster-1 in 100th ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, New Orleans, LA, Nov. 4-8, 2007 Poster-2 in 100th ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings, New Orleans, LA, Nov. 4-8, 2007 More... Project Collaborators Dr. Kenneth G. Cassman, project leader, Director, Prof., Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR), Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, UNL Dr. Adam J. Liska, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, UNL Dr. Haishun Yang, Research Assistant Prof., Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, UNL Virgil Bremer, graduate student, Dept. of Animal Science, UNL Dr. Terry Klopfenstein, Prof., Dept. of Animal Science, UNL Dr. Rick Koelsch, Associate Prof., Dept of Biological Systems Engineering, UNL Dr. Galen Erickson, Associate Professor, Dept. of Animal Science, UNL Pat Tracy, Vice President, Prime Biosolutions, Omaha, Nebraska Dan Kenney, Prime Biosolutions, Omaha, Nebraska Dr. Dan T. Walters, Prof., Dept. of Agronomy & Horticulture, UNL	Screen shots of the BESS model (click to open large pictures)
	Input settings	Output: individual scenarios
	Output: LC analysis	Output: LC emissions
	Scenario comparisons: materials & energy	Summary report

	Program sponsors: Western Governors' Association (through Nebraska Energy Office) Agricultural Research Division of the University of Nebraska Links Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR), UNL Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, UNL Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR), UNL University of Nebraska E3 Biofuels Western Governors's Association Nebraska Energy Office Nebraska Ethanol Board Governors' Ethanol Coalition National Corn Growers Association Renewable Fuels Association Distillers Grains Technology Council National Renewable Energy Laboratory The Hybrid-Maize model Facts on Fuels Ethanol Producer Magazine Page for authorized uses only Contact US Webmaster: Dr. Haishun Yang

Program sponsors: