The Potential Role of Biofuels in New Jersey - Spring

Team Members: John P. Battaglia Hoyt Battey Susanne Brooks Jack Ryan Foshee Anirban Ghosh Christopher Graham Adriana Laguna Cathleen Monahan (Manager) Kathryn Morris William Thomas Murray Raphael S. Tisch (Deputy Manager) Lujing Zou

This report examines the potential for biofuels to help reduce carbon emissions from electricity generation in New Jersey.

The study developed lifecycle emissions models for three biofuel feedstocks—food waste, waste grease, and soybean oil—assessing emissions across production, transportation, processing, and electricity generation. It also evaluated New Jersey’s available feedstocks, biofuel production and combustion capacity, relevant climate and energy policies, and sustainable harvesting requirements.

The analysis found that all three biofuel pathways could reduce carbon emissions compared with conventional fossil-fuel electricity generation. Anaerobic digestion of food waste showed the greatest potential carbon savings, followed by waste grease and soybean oil, highlighting the advantages of waste-based, second-generation biofuels that can simultaneously reduce landfill waste and avoid competition with food production and land use.

The report concludes that biofuels could contribute to New Jersey’s emissions-reduction goals, particularly through greater utilization of waste-based feedstocks, while emphasizing the importance of sustainable production standards, supportive energy policy, and continued research into emerging technologies.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Capstone Workshop.