Life Cycle Analysis of On-Farm Oilseed Crushing and Utilization.

As the price of petroleum based energy continues to rise, small scale on-farm oilseed crushing systems are being increasingly explored as an opportunity for farmers to become producers of both fuel and feed. In order to be a viable energy production alternative the system must maintain, among other criteria, a positive net energy balance. Consequently, there is a need to conduct life-cycle analyses of these small scale systems to ascertain whether or not there is a positive net energy balance associated with the utilization of oilseeds for on-farm energy production. While numerous studies have been conducted documenting the net energy balance of large scale ethanol and biodiesel production, there is a paucity of information relating to life-cycle analysis of small scale oilseed energy production systems. Utilization of crops grown on-farm for energy production can minimize or eliminate substantial energy costs incurred in large scale production, including transportation of feedstock to processing facilities, delivery of finished products to end users, materials and construction of processing facilities, and energy expended in biofuel conversion. Crushing oilseeds produces straight vegetable oil and meal, both of which can be utilized in numerous ways to replace traditional petroleum and feed products. Straight vegetable oil can be converted to biodiesel, burned in modified diesel engines, or used as a heating fuel. Meal can be fed to livestock as a protein replacement, or used in pellet burning stoves for heat generation.