Abstract:The model estimates water requirements for ethanol from corn grain and corn cob based on default or user inputs of crop evapotranspiration, pre-irrigation requirements for salt leaching and crop establishment, irrigation methods and the efficiencies of conversion technologies, and projected crop yields. Water requirements also depend upon procedures adopted for calculating co-product credits at various stages of the lifecycle. The model characterizes water requirements in terms of withdrawal and consumption; and source – ground water, surface water, precipitation, and soil moisture.

The model is part of a series exploring water footprint of future transportation fuels including bio-fuels and electricity. Other models currently under development examine the lifecycle water requirements of electricity from geothermal resources and concentrated solar power.