...Biofuels are in no way capable of being a permanent solution to the fossil fuel crisis that is currently facing our country, and our planet. Corn is one of the most widely produced crops in the world, yet the ethanol produced still only accounts for small percentages of the fuel being used by drivers across the world. Most combustion engines are only equipped to handle a 15% ethanol rate. It would be ill-advised to even attempt to further incorporate Biofuels into the transportation industry beyond the point at which they are used now. Disregarding the logistical problems associated with increasing the use of biofuels, the production of Biofuels is much too inefficient, and any further use of them could potentially cause economic problems, in the form of corn based products being forced to raise their prices. Biofuels could never be a permanent solution to the oil issues currently facing our country, and our planet. Because of the amount of labor, energy usage, pesticides, petroleum based fungicides, cultivation, and fermentation costs, among other things, needed to produce Biofuels, the benefit barely outweighs the means used in production. The current corn-to-ethanol production models show that it is unethical to increase the use of Biofuels made from commercially grown crops. It would just not be cost effective enough to merit an increase in the use of biofuels, when there are more ethical ways in which to utilize the crops grown throughout the world, such as battling...
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...Biofuels. Name: Institution: Course: Tutor: Date: A biofuel is made from a biological process known as carbon fixation. These biofuels are gotten from the conversion of biomass, solid biomass, liquid fuels as well as biogases. The biofuels are continued to be known because of the high prices of fossil fuels and also for the purposes of ensuring fuel security in various countries. (Caye, D. & Terry W.2008). The biofuels are produced from two distinct ways; that is through metabolic by-products or from living organisms. Examples of biofuels include; bioethanol which is an alcohol made from fermentation process. Another example of biofuels is biodiesel which is made from vegetable oils as well as animal fats. Biofuels have got several ways in which they are made. Therefore in this essay I am going to analyze few methods. Biofuels are made from materials known as feedstock. This comprises mostly of crops or products mainly waste vegetable oil. (Mitchell, D. 2010). These materials are converted to biofuels or bioenergy. These feedstocks have got merits and demerits depending on what percentage of biofuel can be gotten from them. Feedstocks can further be classified as first and second generation. The former refers to those which are widely grown by people and at the same time used for some other purposes. They are mostly used for food and feed production. (Lane, J. 2010). Hence, they serve the purpose of being used as food as well as to produce biofuels. The examples of first...
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...Fuel for Thought Fuel that made from biological materials such as plants and animals is defined as biofuel. “Fuel for thought-All biofuels are not created equal”, is an article written by David Tillman and Jason Hill. This article describes how biofuel has made a complete circle from when it was first introduced 100 years ago. In the beginning hay and oats were our first transportation biofuels. These in turn were replaced by gasoline. In present day biodiesel from soybeans and ethanol from corn have started taking the place of diesel and gas. Switching to ethanol and biodiesel has been something of a positive as it helps reduce the threat of climate change and ease dependence on foreign oil. The downside, however, is that we are in conflict with some of our most important needs: food, energy, and a livable environment. (Hill) We are now coming into problems finding and providing answers to the food, fuel, and environment dilemma. If properly produced there are biofuels that can provide climate friendly energy. The difficulty is figuring out where and how to grow them. Our most abundant lands are being used for food production. As demand for energy and food inflates, competition for rich fertile lands could possibly increase food prices and force some of the poorer people into starvation. There is also the threat of extinction of many different plants and animals. Rainforests and other eco systems would potentially be destroyed to make room for new farms. We will...
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...el Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus Scales as a source of BIOFUEL Rsearcher: Jelyne Daryl F. Romero Background of the Study Fuels are substance that give off heat when they burn. Fuel provides our world energy use for heating, cooking, powering ships, cars, and machines and electricity. High prices of gasoline pose a problem to many people. Higher energy costs are flowing down into the costs of other products that we buy. And most people are affected especially the poor people. On the other hand, using the scales of Tilapia as a good source of BIOFUEL, in one way or another, will add to demand for said palm. The use and promotion of BIOFUEL in the country could be a “win-win solution” for both the people and the environment as the world is currently facing a phenomenon called global warming. The use of BIOFUEL will also unlock the country’s dependence on fossil fuels which price depends on the international market. Both Biodiesel and Ethanol are clean, grow-your-own fuels that can be made onsite in villages or local communities from renewable, locally available resources, for the most part using simple equipment that a local workshop can make and maintain. These fuels are among a wide range sustainable local energy options. Others are methane (biogas) digesters that run livestock, crop, and food wastes into cooking and heating gas, charcoal and fuel wood (good fuels unless over harvesting destroys...
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...Introduction Originated from energy crops, biofuels are increasingly being considered as a sustainable energy source when compared with fossil carbon sources. Interrelated factors have led to increased demand for this green energy. Factors include increased energy demand due to resource depletion and instability in oil producing regions, recent technological breakthroughts in agriculture and concerns over environmental impacts such as climate change (Hall et al., 2009). Biofuel development is in addition driven by rural development, job creation (Kraeussl et al., 2004), increasing energy self-suciency and improving competitiveness (EC, 1996, 1997). In Europe, conventional energy crops appear like widely marketed productions, after Brazil and the USA. This expansion has been spurred by the Kyoto Protocol signed in December 1997 and by the European energy policy. Neverthless, food crops and residues from forestry and agriculture cannot provide all biomass needed to ful ll the high future demand. As a result, second generation biofuels originated from perennial biomass crops has been developed. These crops are characterized by a high land use e eciency and their production indicates a substantial reduction in GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Among others these crops are annually harvested perennial crops like miscanthus. Miscanthus (Miscanthus x Giganteus)1 is a perennial rhizomatous grass which has its origins in the tropics and subtropics, but di erent species are...
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...Biomass & Biofuel Biomass & Biofuel: The Future Umaer Ahmed SBI4U-03 Badgery, J. 01/02/13 Biomass & Biofuel: The Future Biofuels are a recent development that has stemmed a great deal of research into the issue of alternative energy. The energy that we get from biofuels originally came from the sun. This solar energy was captured through photosynthesis by the plants used as feedstock (raw materials) for biofuel production, and stored in the plants’ cells. This energy-containing biomass is converted into biofuel through biochemical, chemical, and thermo chemical conversion processes. For example, ethanol, today’s largest volume of biofuel, is produced through a biochemical process. In this process, yeasts ferment sugar from starch and sugar crops into ethanol. Most ethanol is produced from sugar canes and cornstarch. Biochemical conversion techniques allow us to make use of more abundant “cellulosic” biomass sources such as grass, trees, and agricultural residues. A simpler chemical process used to produce a biofuel is the production of biodiesel. Biodiesel facilities start with vegetable oils, seed oils, or animal fats and reacts them with methanol/ethanol in the presence of a catalyst. Algae and plants can serve as a natural source of oil which refineries can convert into jet fuel or diesel fuel. Once the biomass has been converted into biofuel, the biofuel is used to...
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...before and it will increase by fifty percentages in the next 20 years according to Energy Information Agency (IEA) report. The main alternative energy sources to fossil fuel are biofuels which have received much attention worldwide and they have already generated 45% of all energy from natural fuels in Brazil.(Sims & Taylor, 2008) The most widely used biofuel is the first generation biofuel which is make from plants like sugarcane, oilseed. By using these kinds plants, ethanol and oil can be produced.(Ahmad, Mat Yasin, Derek, & Lim, 2011) In this essay, innovations in biofuels will be divided into 3 sectors with examples illustrated. 2. The Innovation Dimension 3.1 Innovation Type Innovation can be divided into four types: production innovation, process innovation, position innovation and paradigm innovation. (Tidd, Bessant, & Pavitt, 2005)In the biofuel sector, product innovation and process innovation are widely used. Product innovations are changes in the products which an organization offers. Process innovations are changes in the ways in which they are created and delivered. 3.2.1 Product Innovation Product innovations take place when the market requires new features of the established product. (Tidd, Bessant, & Pavitt, 2005)For example, first generation biofuel has been used as vehicle energy source for decades and become mature. However, it was not able to apply in the aircraft engine. New regulations were made...
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...Government of India Ministry of New & Renewable Energy National Policy on Biofuels Block No. 14, C.G.O. Complex Lodhi Road New Delhi- 110003 Page 1 of 18 National Policy on Biofuels 1.0 1.1 PREAMBLE India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. The Development Objectives focus on economic growth, equity and human well being. Energy is a critical input for socio-economic development. The energy strategy of a country aims at efficiency and security and to provide access which being environment friendly and achievement of an optimum mix of primary resources for energy generation. Fossil fuels will continue to play a dominant role in the energy scenario in our country in the next few decades. However, conventional or fossil fuel resources are limited, non-renewable, polluting and, therefore, need to be used prudently. On the other hand, renewable energy resources are indigenous, non-polluting and virtually inexhaustible. India is endowed with abundant renewable energy resources. Therefore, their use should be encouraged in every possible way. 1.2 The crude oil price has been fluctuating in the world market and has increased significantly in the recent past, reaching a level of more than $ 140 per barrel. Such unforeseen escalation of crude oil prices is severely straining of the developing various economies the world over, particularly those countries. Petro-based oil meets about 95% of the requirement for transportation fuels, and the...
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...Ashton Roesbery GS1140M – 03/23/2014 01_A4_Roesbery Introduction Bio-fuel, a wonder that hasn’t fully been discovered, but in 20 years, will definitely be the source of all things we use today. Have you ever wondered what there might be in the future? How things will run? With these current standards, how fast we waste NON-renewable energy sources, without bio-fuel, we would be lost completely (not counting other renewable energy). I bet by now you’re wondering how bio-fuel can be so amazing. Well, I will explain that all right here. 1. Poop, Feces, Ca-Ca (Insert other name here) You must be wondering, “There’s no way he just said that!” I’m here explaining, yes, I am. So I’m pretty sure, you don’t just go about life, thinking, “I wonder what can happen with all the feces I leave behind?” I mean, not many people wonder about what exactly what happens to our remains, but right now, as you’re reading this, there are ways that are being used to turn our leftovers into enough to power the very things we use today. Cars, cell phones, electricity as a whole... Let’s get to the good stuff. Today research is happening to turn our poo into fuel/power! There’s currently a machine that belches and farts, breaking down our waste, to provide energy to power over 6 acres of greenhouse power, currently in effect at a farm owned by Bayview flowers. Annually, they cut their energy bill from 300,000 to 200,000. That’s a lot of money, and mainly, these machines are at big companies, but...
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...Learning from the Indian experience and the BioFuels industry in India Rajan K. Paradkar Sr. General Manager Armaco Consultant Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India NOT AN OFFICIAL UNCTAD DOCUMENT Financing BioFuels and Jatropha Plantation Projects Accra, Ghana-November 13, 2006 EXPRESSES THANKS TO YOU, HONOURABLE CHAIRPERSON, FOR THE KIND INVITATION EXTENDED TO DELIVER THIS PRESENTATION AND WELCOMES THE PARTICIPANTS TO THIS WORKSHOP Financing BioFuels and Jatropha Plantation Projects Accra, Ghana-November 13, 2006 Financing BioFuels and Jatropha Plantation Projects Accra, Ghana-November 13, 2006 Financing BioFuels and Jatropha Plantation Projects Accra, Ghana-November 13, 2006 •CDM is a mechanism to monetize environmental value of proenvironmental projects established in response to global climate change. •CDM enables developed countries with high CO2 reduction costs, to meet the shortfall of allowed emissions at a lower cost than achieving the reduction domestically. •To Developing countries, the CDM presents an opportunity to attract investment from developed countries to environmentally sound projects assisting in sustainable development. •Optimum size of the project for CDM financing to be analyzed. This is in terms of CER’s per year (I.e. Certified Emission Reductions OR Tons of CO2 per year). Financing BioFuels and Jatropha Plantation Projects Accra, Ghana-November 13, 2006 Financing BioFuels and Jatropha Plantation Projects Accra, Ghana-November 13...
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...The Quest for Biofuels: Issues and Concerns Biofuels have been billed as an important component in the United States bid to become less dependent on foreign energy. As the price of crude oil continues to increase, and as the country sets its sights on becoming less dependent on foreign oil the pressure is mounting to increase the production of biofuels. In addition, the global energy demand is continuing to increase and known petroleum supplies are decreasing (CAST II, 2007); the need for a sustainable substitute for current fossil fuels has become more evident than ever. The rise in costs of traditional energy sources has raised this issue to prominence in many American households as well. Several government agencies and working groups have set goals, targets, and timelines for reducing the use of fossil fuels and the substitution of biofuels to fill the energy demand. This push for the use of biofuels will have dramatic effects on many sectors of the American economy and many new problems and issues will arise that need to be considered. Currently grain-based ethanol production is the primary means by which biofuels are produced in the United States. Corn is the grain of choice in this production system. The annual production capacity of ethanol has increased rapidly in recent years, from 1.7 billion gallons in 2000 to 4.3 billion gallons in 2006 (CAST, 2006). It is also projected that the annual production capacity will increase to 7 billion gallons by 2008 (CAST, 2006)...
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...Kirkpatrick ABSTRACT Biofuel technologies have become more and more prominent in addressing the need for a continuous supply of fuels. Biofuels are fuels that are produced through the biological process of converting biomass/biowaste into a fuel source to reduce the negative impacts faced by fossil fuels combustion (reduction in greenhouse gasses) and availability of supply. Biofuels can be derived from a wide variety of biomass, and are categorised into four generations: First generation biofuels are made from sugars, starches, oil, and animal fats that are converted into fuel using already-known processes or technologies. These fuels include biodiesel, bioalcohols, ethanol, and biogases, like methane captured from landfill decomposition. Second generation biofuels are made from non-food crops or agricultural waste, especially ligno-cellulosic biomass like switch-grass, willow, or wood chips. Third generation biofuels are made from algae or other quickly growing biomass sources. Fourth generation biofuels are made from specially engineered plants or biomass that may have higher energy yields or lower barriers to cellulosic breakdown or are able to be grown on non-agricultural land or bodies of water. However, criticism falls on this solution, with the biofuels being pursued to reduce climate change impacts from energy consumption being relatively ineffective. Analysis of the carbon lifecycle associated with biofuels articulates that carbon...
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...RESEARCH QUESTION: WHY CAN’T MALAYSIA BE A MAJOR CONSUMER OF BIOFUEL? I Introduction While demand in the growing biofuels industry, Malaysia can’t be a major consumer of biofuels as there are some issues in the social impact,ecosystem services, technical consideration for the use of biofuel-based and Malaysia Government Policy sector II Body A One of the reasons Malaysia can’t be a major consumer is the issue in social impact. 1 Competition between food and fuel a Some commodities like maize,sugar cane and vegetable oil can be used either as food or biofuels sources.(Wikipedia,2012) b Human food chain can be affected due to this competition.(Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule,2008) 2 Food price increase a Food prices will increase due to higher demand for biofuels usage.(Doornbosh and Steenblik, 2007) b Higher cost of raws material compared to fossil fuels (Steven and Lee, 2010, p.948) 3 Lack of public awareness about the use of biofuels a Most Malaysian do not realize that Malaysia will run out of oil in 19 years if alternative energy sources such as biofuels are not used. (Prime Minister’s Department,2005,p.22) b Dissemination of information about the benefits of using biofuels is less widespread in the media causing fewer people to take note of the biofuel industry. (Bentley Motors,2008,p.3) B Another reasons is the issue in ecosystem services. 1 Soil erosion and deforestation ...
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...BioFuel Energy Corp., headquartered in Denver, Colorado, produces ethanol and its co-products, primarily distillers grain, at its two production facilities located in Wood River, Nebraska and Fairmont, Minnesota. (BioFuel Energy Corp. 10-K, pg. 2). The operations and cash flows of BioFuel are exposed to wide and unpredictable fluctuations due to changes in commodities prices, particularly, the price of its main commodity, corn, in relation to the price of its main commodity product, ethanol. Ethanol is a clean burning, high-octane fuel that is produced from the fermentation of carbohydrates such as grains, starches, and sugars and used as a gasoline additive to increase the octane rating and comply with air emissions regulations by reducing emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide. Also, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) mandates that renewable biofuels comprise a certain minimum amount of the U.S. fuel supply. Fuel blended with up to 10% ethanol is approved for use by major motor vehicle manufacturers and is often recommended as a result of ethanol’s clean burning characteristics (BioFuel Energy Corp. 10-K, pg. 5). BioFuel has various unique accounting methods such as revenue recognition and inventory valuation, due to changes in commodity prices and BioFuel’s exclusive buyer-seller relationship with Cargill. One of BioFuel’s unique accounting methods is revenue recognition. Revenue is recognized by BioFuel when the risk of loss and title transfers upon the...
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...proposed solutions to the problem of competition between land use for biofuels versus food crop production. Growing concerns regarding climate change as well as increasing energy demands has resulted in a worldwide interest in alternative energy sources. One of the primary energy sources in focus is biofuels. Biofuels are renewable fuels predominantly derived from biological feedstock’s otherwise used for food crop production. This raises concerns because the competition between land use for biofuel production versus food crop production results in increased food prices and decreased food availability. In response to this, several proposed solutions have been put forward in order to refine the production of biofuels. These proposed solutions include the utilisation of algae as a biofuel source, the use of degraded land for growing biofuel crops, and the genetic modification of biofuel crops. The essential idea behind genetic modification is to increase the amount of biofuel that can be extracted from biofuel crops (Amon et al., 2007). Therefore, less land is required for biofuel production facilities utilising genetically modified crops (Torney et al., 2007). This allows for more land to be used for food crop production, reducing the competition between land use for biofuels versus food crop production. Genetic engineering can be applied to the production of bioethanol. Bioethanol is a form of biofuel produced from the fermentation of starch or sugar rich crops, such as...
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