Nov 21, 2024  
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25 
    
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
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ES 4710 - Bioenergy: Science, Policy, and Business


Students gain an understanding of the historical uses, current trends, and potential future production of bioenergy. Students learn how to describe and interpret life-cycle impacts of bioenergy production systems. The course reviews national (U.S.) and international policies that regulate bioenergy production; and analyzes the crop species, agro-ecosystems, land managements, conversion technologies, co-products, transportation infrastructure, and end uses of bioenergy production pathways for both solid and liquid fuels. Students also evaluate the ecological impacts, land and water requirements, economic efficiencies, and energetic efficiencies of bioenergy systems relative to other energy systems.

Credit Hours: 3
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will be able to calculate energy yields from bioenergy crops that are proposed in the United States.
  • Students will be able to evaluate agricultural land resources that are actively managed for food, fiber, bioproducts, or biofuel.
  • Students will be able to interpret and compare life-cycle assessments of bioenergy production systems.
  • Students will be able to propose and defend a business design for sustainable bioenergy production.
  • Students will be able to describe recent policies in the United States and the European Union that promote bioenergy development.
  • Students will be able to describe the basic steps required for conversion of biomass to liquid fuel and/or biogas.



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