In a possible moderate ethanol production scenario that includes trash collection and cellulosic ethanol production, sugarcane has the potential to provide sufficient ethanol to meet 14% of Australia's . The production, distribution, and use of biofuels can create jobs in a variety of sectors that will support the production and use of this sustainable alternative. Fuel." But if the tractors that tend the field burn 75 gallons of fuel in the season, the truck to transport the corn to a processor burns 20 gallons on the trip, and the processor uses the energy of 40 gallons of fuel to run its distillation equipment, is the ethanol produced really an environmentally friendly, low-emission fuel? This undergraduate laboratory experiment educates students on the various alternative fuels that are being developed for automotive applications and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Disadvantages of Biofuels. If you live in Zone 5, for example, you will likely have trouble growing a plant that requires the long growing season and high heat of Zone 10 [source: Burpee]. However, ease of access to food imports and the export depends on a wide variety of political and social factors. For example, Range Fuels in Georgia similarly attempted to gasify waste from the pulp and paper industry and transform it into ethanol directly but foundered in perfecting its catalysts. On the other hand, because many biofuel feedstocks require land, water, and other resources, research suggests that biofuel production may give rise to several undesirable effects. All of these plants grow better when given fertilizer. . Biogas reduces Soil and water pollution. The advantages and disadvantages of HYV seeds are shown in the table below: Biofuels Biofuels are any kind of fuel manufactured from living things or from waste. They emit less carbon dioxide and other emissions when burned than standard diesel. After all, a better harvest would reduce prices and ensure there's enough corn or soybeans on hand to feed and fuel the world, right? Syngas can be utilized to make methanol, DME, and hydrogen. Anything that is local comes with an extra benefit. and environmental chaos ensued. Biofuel Biomass is the only renewable energy source that can be converted into liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. In any case, the regeneration of biofuels is also not fast enough to be considered a renewable energy source. For the billions of people who live on only a few dollars per day, even a small increase in food prices could put their access to proper nutrition at risk. Biofuels are compatible with current engine designs and work very well in most conditions. Had it been the season's popular strain of corn, there could have been an ecological disaster as monarchs migrated through the corn-heavy American Midwest [source: Mellon and Rissler]. Most biofuels are formed from plant matter. An important consideration is the gel point; a fuel that becomes solid above the freezing point of water is not very useful in a cold location. This factor could potentially limit the scale of biofuel production when it comes to upscaling their use. . Which brings us to the second advantage. Land Use Modifications 9. Biofuel Disadvantages: In the creation of first generation biofuels, huge amounts of land are needed. In theory, this sounds like a terrific way to keep up with biofuel crop demand. Monoculture refers to the practice of growing one heavily concentrated crop, rather than the rotation of various crops through a farmer's fields over time. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. But large-scale biofuel production -- especially using corn, and in arid parts of the world -- will have to share finite water resources with drinking and irrigation needs. Think about the oils in your kitchen: While the olive oil in the cupboard is easy to pour, the lard and vegetable shortening have a paste-like consistency. It might seem counterintuitive at first, but some scientists argue that widespread biofuel production is a negative-sum game: Producing enough biodiesel or ethanol to replace one gallon of petroleum fuel, they argue, requires the energy equivalent to several gallons' worth of petroleum fuel [source: Pimentel]. The New York Times. Land use is also a major factor in evaluating the benefits of biofuels. See Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Find out More about Renewable Energy Device & Equipment in Linquip, See List of all Renewable Energy Manufacturing Companies in Linquip. The production of biofuels can be more expensive than the production of fossil fuels due to the costs of growing and processing the feedstocks. The plant will turn 300 metric tons of raw fluff per day into 36 million liters of ethanol per year. But biofuels aren't completely cost-free. There is also no need to convert the engine. This way biofuels also decrease our dependence on foreign oil, which helps to reduce our trade deficit and improve energy security on a country level. The ragged stripes stretching from east to west are growing zones: regions where water supply, temperature and sunlight make hospitable climates for certain types of plants. Potential drawbacks include changes to land use patterns that may increase GHG emissions, pressure on water resources, air and water pollution, and increased food costs. Biofuel is produced from renewable resources and relatively less-flammable than fossil diesel. Less carbon emissions . They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Similarly, nutrients that are returned to the soil through crop rotation and allow fields to lay fallow disappear under extreme monocultural farming. Deforestation. As an alternative source of energy, they also reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, minimizing or emitting negative effects that come with the use of this polluting and limited source that has been powering our economies since the industrial revolution but has also brought about increased pollution levels and emissions of greenhouse gases. The problem is even worse for pure vegetable oil, used as fuel in so-called "greasecars." And. Syngas is a mix of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other hydrocarbons, which is produced by partial combustion of biomass. Biodiesel doesn't fare much better. Biofuels, and the process of integrating them into our fuel use habits, can be costly. Biofuel production utilizing food crops such as corn can drastically change the worlds access to cheap food. And alcohol fuels (including ethanol) can corrode or damage some of the metal and rubber fittings used in gasoline-powered engines. Here at Linquip you can send inquiries to all Renewable Energy suppliers and receive quotations for free, Your email address will not be published. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. Biofuels are a renewable resource, so they can be replenished over time. Many fertilizers contain nitrogen and phosphorus. It has the same advantages as for AD (items 3 to 6 inclusive) over spreading untreated organic waste material on land. sunlight and water. Liquid biofuels are of particular interest because of the vast infrastructure already in place to use them, especially for transportation. Biofuels have some advantages over their counterparts. Biofuels are often produced from crops such as corn, sugarcane, and palm oil, which can be grown on a large scale. Careful fertilizer application can help prevent widespread pollution problems, but expanding biofuel production to meet the world's demand opens the door for more mistakes in this realm. See also carbon sequestration. What does it mean? Cellulosic biomas obtained from non-food sources, including trees and grasses, is also being developed as a raw material for ethanol production. A 2009 study suggests that, in the rush to produce enough corn-based ethanol to meet federal alternative energy requirements, biofuel demand is already putting stress on fresh water supplies in the Great Plains and central Southwest [source: McKenna]. Given the expense of converting this mix of dirt and heavy oils to more usable petroleum products, the province is not keen on alternative fuels. (Clear Guide) + PDF, How Does A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Work? Additionally, using crops for biofuels can also lead to a decrease in the availability of food, as well as an increase in the cost of food. "Essentially, we intersect [with the waste] before it goes to the landfill, where it would just contribute to the methane gas already coming from there," says Ineos business manager, Dan Cummings. Additionally, biofuel production can also lead to changes in land use patterns, which can displace local communities and increase the cost of land. (Dec. 11, 2010)http://www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/growing-zone-information/growingzoneinfo.html, Carey, John et al. Moisture is more likely to be absorbed by biofuels than fossil diesel, which causes problems in cold weather. Ignorance Conclusion This lack of compatibility is one of the reasons that biofuels have not been widely adopted as a replacement for fossil fuels. They produce industrial pollution. These emissions include carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels during the production process and nitrous oxide from soil that has been treated with nitrogen fertilizer. Corn-based ethanol, for example, has a higher density than gasoline; fuel injectors have to be larger in an ethanol-only engine to match the fuel flow of a comparable gasoline engine. Other biofuel crops, such as switchgrass and miscanthus, are considered to be more water-efficient and need less water for irrigation. . Such a material is said to be carbon neutral. In practice, however, the industrial production of agricultural biofuels can result in additional emissions of greenhouse gases that may offset the benefits of using a renewable fuel. The penalty for the convenience of not annotating object lifetime manually in the source code is overhead, often leading to decreased or . When fossil fuels burn, they produce large amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide. One potential challenge to the reliability of biofuels is their limited availability, as they are only produced from certain feedstocks (as mentioned in the disadvantages section). Incredibly safe. 167.99.130.146 Second, the oil these plants produce is not equal. If the land used to grow a biofuel feedstock has to be cleared of native vegetation, then ecological damage is done in three ways. 2. This allows the engine to run for longer periods with less maintenance and reduces overall pollution check costs. Not every country has vast crude oil resources. As a result, looking for unsaturated oil as a biofuel source is reasonable. While both of these additives promote rapid and hearty growth in many crops, they have a downside. Its worth noting that the negative effects of biofuels can be mitigated by adopting appropriate policies and regulations, such as implementing sustainable land use practices, supporting research and development of advanced biofuels, and promoting the use of biofuels in a way that doesnt compete with food production. Import Tuner. Excessive use or improper application can leave surplus fertilizer in the soil, which is then washed through regional watersheds and transferred into rivers, lakes, and underground aquifers. We are working hard to improve our content. Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass Energy Biomass Energy . A number of factors play into any fuel's cost, both in economic and environmental terms, and biofuel doesn't always come out as the most sustainable option. Biofuels are derived from the decomposition of biological or organic waste. The use of biofuels improves energy security of individual countries by diversifying the energy mix and reducing reliance of countries on a single energy source. But the fertilizers can have detrimental effects on the environment, and expanded biofuel production could pose a major threat due to freshwater pollution. Long-time monoculture farms have to use much more artificial fertilizer than their more sustainable peers, increasing water pollution. Bloomberg Businessweek. High Cost of Production Though there are many reasons to want to use biofuels, they do have a very high cost of production and are too expensive to produce, especially considering current market conditions. Some algal species contain up to 40 percent lipids by weight, which can be converted into biodiesel or synthetic petroleum. . That has yet to be an energy source that comes without some drawback. 6. Furthermore, the burning of coal and oil raises the temperature and warms the planet. For example, it is estimated that growing one hectare of corn for biofuels takes between 3,000 and 5,000 cubic meters of water per year. Additionally, biofuel production can also lead to changes in land use patterns, as farmers may shift from growing food crops to biofuel crops in order to take advantage of government incentives or higher prices for biofuel crops. When biofuels are burned, they produce significantly less carbon output and fewer toxins than carbon fuels. It generates harmful emissions 2. According to some estimates, expansion by Indonesian palm oil plantations caused the vast majority of that nation's deforestation in the late '80s and '90s. Feeding aquatic organisms from such contaminated water can lead to their death, as the oxygen in these waters is reduced and toxins are introduced into it. If biofuels are obtained from sustainable farming of reclaimed lands, their production may be much less polluting in terms of not degrading land or freshwater resources compared to fossil fuels. Economic and environmental considerations, https://www.britannica.com/technology/biofuel, United States Environmental Protection Agency - Economics of Biofuels, biofuel - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Biodiesel can be made from vegetable oils and animal fats. Biofuel typically involves contemporary carbon fixation, such as happens in plants or microalgae during photosynthesis. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com/index.php, Journey to Forever. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Omissions? While the first is a bit beyond the control of biofuel producers, the second is at the core of a potentially serious drawback of plant-based fuels: The water demands of some biofuel-producing crops could put unsustainable pressure on local water resources if not managed wisely. It increases costs as well as the emissions produced in production and transport. MIT Technology Review. Thanks for reading Scientific American. "Once a Dream Fuel, Palm Oil May Be an Eco-Nightmare." By using biofuels as an alternative energy source, we can reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which can help to reduce our impact on the environment and contribute to a more sustainable energy system that is more locally based. Although it has been stated quite extensively that biofuels have an overall positive environmental impact, it may be well to explore the disadvantages of biofuels in this respect. New York City spends roughly $400 million each year to transport 14 million tons of waste to incinerators and landfills. PhotoAlto/James Hardy/Getty Images "Biofuel" is a major buzzword in transportation circles these days, and for good reason. The biomass pretreatment is one of the keys to the best use of organic waste and thus enhance the production of a biogas plant. Also, these crops can be planted again. The oil in their grains is pressed out, filtered, and reformed to fuel by a chemical process. One way is through direct competition for land, water, and other resources. Monoculture refers to the production of one concentrated crop rather than the rotating of different crops through a farmers field over time. April 2009. Even if plant waste can be used as raw material, the demand for these products will still exist. 1. Dependence on Water and Oil Resources. Furthermore, biofuels can also be more expensive to produce than fossil fuels, which can make them less competitive in the market and discourage investment in the biofuel industry. Biofuels are generally of two categories: gaseous biofuel and liquid biofuel. University of California, Berkeley. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops/, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. Because of the higher-than-petroleum gel point of many biodiesel-producing oils, a biodiesel engine can be difficult -- if not impossible -- to start in cold weather. So, extensive production of biofuel is a negative-sum game. Feb. 5, 2007. Disadvantage of Biofuels Energy output Indirect Carbon Emissions Much Higher Initial Cost Food Prices May Strain Water Resources Destruction of Cultivable Land Conclusion on Biofuel Pros and Cons Related Resources Biofuel Pros and Cons Analysis: How Does It Work? Biofuel production using food crops such as corn, soybeans and sorghum has the potential to alter drastically the world's access to affordable food. The simple supply-and-demand economics of biofuels -- increase demand for corn, for example, and corn becomes more expensive -- can pose a threat to some regions' food security, or the access to affordable nutritious food for the region's population [source: Naylor]. When biodiesel is utilized as a combustible fuel, the engine durability increases. For the billions of people living on only a few dollars per day, even a slight increase in food prices could jeopardize their access to proper nutrition. It took millions of years for organic materials to transform into fossil fuels stores we currently mine for our energy needs. Advantages of Biofuels Biofuels costs have been declining and are likely to be far cheaper than petrol and other fossil fuels. However, fuel ethanol contains denaturants to make fuel ethanol undrinkable. But there's another complication that arises with this selection. Moreover, the crops that are grown to produce biomass absorb carbon dioxide which helps clean the air. This is a problem biofuel crops share with food crops, gardens and lawns worldwide. Source: New York Times, June 2, 2017. In the long term, this may lead to a decrease in food availability, nutritional quality of available foods, diversity of food crops, and possibly endanger food security. DISADVANTAGES OF BIOETHANOL 1. Making biofuels from waste makes dollars--and sense, Edmonton is Canada's chief oil city as well as the capital of Alberta, the province that hosts the bulk of the country's tar sands. This is not the selective breeding they have followed for years; genetically modified crops are developed in the laboratory to tolerate herbicides better, fight off pests, and higher yields. The use of regular feedstock, such as corn and soybeans, as a primary component of first-generation biofuels sparked the food versus fuel debate. This is a serious contra argument to consider especially with climate change already shifting our ability to grow crops in certain areas. What is Distributed Generation? There are four generations of biofuels based on how they are made.
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