Biofuels and Petroleum in Kentucky Today
While petroleum is a small portion of the energy that is produced in the state, it is the most consumed energy source in the state when you account for all petroleum-based products. As the U.S. continues to explore liquid biofuels as an alternative for petroleum, Kentucky has become a large producer of renewable biofuels.
Petroleum Industry at a Glance:
While petroleum accounts for less than 1% of electricity generation in Kentucky, it accounts for a large amount of the state’s energy consumption.
Transportation: The vast majority of petroleum products in Kentucky are used to power cars, trucks, and freight.
Refined Petroleum Products: These products include gasoline and distillate (diesel), propane and other fuel oil, asphalt, and petrochemicals.
Industrial and Chemical Products: Beyond fuel, petroleum derivatives are manufactured into lubricants, plastics, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.
What Are Liquid Biofuels?
Liquid biofuels are renewable, liquid energy sources derived from plant materials, agricultural residues, animal fats, and waste oils.
While they contribute less than 1% of the state’s electricity generation, Kentucky has become a large biofuel producer, helping reduce reliance on petroleum.
Because most of the state’s petroleum is imported from other states, advancing domestic biofuel production from locally grown sources is a major advantage for Kentucky.
How Is Biofuel Produced in Kentucky?
Agricultural Feedstocks: Kentucky uses locally grown crops, particularly corn and soybeans, as primary raw materials for biofuel production.
Biodiesel: Soybean oil, animal fats, and recycled cooking oils are chemically converted into biodiesel for use in diesel engines.
Ethanol: Corn and recovered sugars from beverage and industrial waste are fermented and refined into ethanol, which is primarily blended with gasoline.
Waste-to-Fuel: Animal fats, used cooking oils, and industrial food and beverage wastes can be recovered and converted into valuable transportation fuels.
Local Processing: Kentucky facilities integrate agriculture, waste recovery, and fuel refining to produce renewable fuels for regional and national markets.
Benefits
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
Increased energy security through domestic fuel production
Compatible with existing infrastructure (i.e. gasoline)
Biofuel production supports economic development
Challenges
Competition with food production
Requires large land use and can contribute to a loss in biodiversity
Low energy density (less bang for your buck compared to petroleum)
High production costs
What Does Biofuel Mean for Kentucky?
Supports Kentucky Agriculture: Creates new markets for locally grown corn and soybeans used to produce ethanol and biodiesel.
Provides Cleaner Transportation Fuels: Ethanol and biodiesel help reduce petroleum use across passenger vehicles, commercial fleets, agricultural equipment, and other transportation sectors.
Turns Waste into Energy: Kentucky facilities and researchers are converting waste oils, fats, beverages, and plant biomass into renewable fuels.
Advances Sustainable Aviation Fuel:
Drives Economic Development: State programs and tax incentives encourage biofuel production, capital investment, job creation, and new markets for Kentucky resources.
Looking Ahead:
Kentucky is exploring many new pathways for advancing biofuels, including incentives and investment opportunities to grow a sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) industry and expand agricultural feedstocks.
Sources:
https://www.eia.gov/states/ky/overview
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/liquid-biofuels
https://www.marathonpetroleum.com/Operations/Refining/Catlettsburg-Refinery/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032117308201
https://www.kyfb.com/federation/newsroom/kentucky-agriculture-ready-for-renewable-fuels-expansion/