A Monte Carlo simulation model was constructed to analyze the economic feasibility of growing algae as a renewable fuel source. Increasing growth rates, pond water depth, oil content, and facility size are important for ensuring the economic viability of a commercial algae facility.

We employ a multi-region computable general equilibrium model of the world economy to estimate changes in worldwide food insecurity that result from the imposition of the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard.

This paper examines the impact of sex-sorted semen adoption on dairy farm level economics. Representative dairies are used to simulate the financial impacts of moving to this new technology. Key economic, financial and herd dynamics will be compared among dairies to show how the uses of...

The widespread use of personal computers and spreadsheet models for feasibility studies makes risk-based Monte Carlo simulation analysis of proposed investments a relatively simple task. Add-in simulation packages for Microsoft® Excel can be used to make spreadsheet models stochastic. Rather...

Ethanol production in 15, 30, and 80 million gallon per year production plants are analyzed at various subsidy levels. The results indicate that removing per plant subsidy limits allows reduced total state subsidy expenditures. This action takes advantage of the economies of scale inherent in...

Contrary to developments in other parts of the world, South Africa has not developed a bio-ethanol industry. The objective was to quantify the risks and economic viability of a wheat based bio-ethanol plant in the winter rainfall region of South Africa. Monte Carlo simulation of a bio-ethanol...

With the 2005 Energy Bills passage, the production and use of ethanol is set to become an integral component of the transportation fuel market. Undoubtedly, this will affect the transportation fuel and agricultural industries. This paper uses an econometric time series approach to reveal...