This is due to the fact that biofuels are derived from renewable resources, such as crops and waste materials, which is more expensive to grow and process than fossil fuels. "Modern Agriculture: Ecological impacts and the possibilities for truly sustainable farming." As the demand for biofuels increases, it is also possible that they will become cheaper in the future. Plantation owners prepared their operations to meet the demand . This difference affects the viability of the oil as fuel. Disadvantages of Biofuels 1. The crops tend to be lesser varieties of the original, say of corn, for . A number of manufacturers sell components for biodiesel and greasecar conversions, and intrepid tinkerers often find ways to overcome the gelling problem. . Many fertilizers contain nitrogen and phosphorus. About 3.5 million tons of garbage is discarded in landfills every day. Plant-based fuel can be produced almost anywhere, comes from a renewable resource and often produces cleaner emissions than petroleum-based fuel. But factor in a number of other complicating aspects, and biofuel often carries a heavy price. 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]. This may sound contradictory to the advantages of biofuels mentioned earlier in this article. The Pros of Biofuels As an alternative source of energy obtained from renewable and biological material, these fuels can be produced using waste materials. Diverting that waste to anaerobic digestion would turn a cost into an opportunity, generating revenue from energy production and co-products. University of California, Berkeley. The best road tax-exempt cars to buyFor now, biofuel is . (Dec. 11, 2010)http://www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/growing-zone-information/growingzoneinfo.html, Carey, John et al. The heat, in turn, can be used to run generators in a power plant to produce electricity. It contributes to deforestation 4. The energy that is obtained from biofuels is known as bioenergy. Segregating organic waste from the garbage to generate Biogas considerably reduces wastes from landfills. 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]. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. 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. IATA believes that by 2020 we could see 3%-4% of fuel comprised of second generation biofuels, which is made from biomass, agricultural residues or waste, rather than from the oil crops used for first generation biofuels. Growing demand for food-biofuel crops may have a positive result for crop producers due to higher prices for their products. The amount of water used to grow biofuels varies depending on the type of biofuel, the location, and the farming practices used. 11 Advantages and Disadvantages of Ethanol - Vittana.org The process creates a synthetic gas (syngas), which can then be used for a wide variety of applications. Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass - Green Coast Biofuels refer to fuels made from plant materials. Because of the higher gel point of many biodiesel producing oils than petroleum, it is difficult, if not impossible, to start a biodiesel engine in cold weather. Biofuels Advantages and Disadvantages in 2022. Comparing renewable sources of energy - BBC Bitesize ", David Biello is a contributing editor at Scientific American. Despite the development of various technologies for converting waste tires into biofuels, there is a need for more cost-effective and efficient methods that can be scaled up for commercial production. The rise in demand for food-biofuel crops can have a positive effect for crop producers, in the form of higher prices for their produce. And. Manure and other animal waste can be converted to sustainably meet the energy needs of the farm. The problem is even worse for pure vegetable oil, used as fuel in so-called "greasecars." Gasoline is refined from crude oil, a non-renewable resource. A way to reduce the impact of greenhouse gases is to use biofuels around the world. 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. "Waste as a feedstock [for biofuels] has a number of advantages," says Enerkem's co-founder and chief technology officer Esteban Chornet, a former engineer at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. 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 . On the other hand, burning garbage produces air pollution and releases the chemicals and substances in the waste into the air. Advantages and Disadvantages of Biogas | Homebiogas According to studies, the levels of carbon dioxide emissions and particulate matter are reduced with biofuels, however, the nitrogen oxides are slightly higher than at fossil fuels [1]. Biofuels, on the other hand, are produced from biological materials, which are generally considered to be cleaner-burning than fossil fuels. Biofuel typically involves contemporary carbon fixation, such as happens in plants or microalgae during photosynthesis. What are the economic advantages of using biofuels? Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. Required fields are marked *. Carbon monoxide emissions are lower than that . Biofuel Pros and Cons Analysis: How Does It Work? They produce industrial pollution. Moisture is more likely to be absorbed by biofuels than fossil diesel, which causes problems in cold weather. The development of a biofuels industry has great potential to stimulate economic development in rural areas with less job possibilities by creating new markets for crops and other agricultural products. The following figure shows the biodiesel cycle schematically. But that price quickly reaches consumers. Economics of Biofuels | US EPA A study in 2005 showed that using available farming and production technologies, from 27 to 118 percent more energy is needed to produce a gallon of biodiesel than the energy existing in it. Additionally, biofuel production can also lead to changes in land use patterns, which can displace local communities and increase the cost of land. Utilization of Fertilizers 4. Higher the diversity of plants, better natural resistance to diseases and pests. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Other biofuel crops, such as switchgrass and miscanthus, are considered to be more water-efficient and need less water for irrigation. Studies show that the machinery needed to cultivate the crops emits large carbon emissions. Many biofuel crops are used to make biodiesel. 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. References: Ann, Ngee. Some algal species contain up to 40 percent lipids by weight, which can be converted into biodiesel or synthetic petroleum. You may think that biofuels are used mainly in transport, but thats not all. 7. These materials include plant matter such as corn, soybeans, and sugarcane, as well as animal fats and agricultural waste. Advantages and disadvantages of biofuels - Power Knot As a renewable energy source, plant-based biofuels in principle make little net contribution to global warming and climate change; the carbon dioxide (a major greenhouse gas) that enters the air during combustion will have been removed from the air earlier as growing plants engage in photosynthesis. Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy - Inspire Clean Energy Synfuels still remain more expensive to produce than conventional fuels, mostly because more research, development and investment are necessary to make production economically viable. . 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. The oil in their grains is pressed out, filtered, and reformed to fuel by a chemical process. Sugar Cane Until recently, sugar cane was the world's main source of ethanol, because of its prevalence in Brazil. As a result, looking for unsaturated oil as a biofuel source is reasonable. Biofuels are a renewable resource, so they can be replenished over time. Biofuels could be a sustainable energy source over the long term if they are produced and used in a responsible and well-planned manner when all the pros and cons of biofuels versus fossil fuels are considered. 1. But the fertilizers can have detrimental effects on the environment, and expanded biofuel production could pose a major threat due to freshwater pollution. The generation of biofuels, a priori, represents several advantages over obtaining fossil fuels used to get fossil energy.The main advantage is that the regeneration of resources does not take millions of years as it happens with coal, oil, or natural gas.. Given that the conversion rate is lower than with first-generation biofuels, cellulosic ethanol is dominantly used as a gasoline additive. Biofuels have emerged as an alternative to fossil fuels in recent years due to their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of renewable energy. Biofuels are often produced from crops such as corn, sugarcane, and palm oil, which can be grown on a large scale. The water demands of some biofuel crops can put unsustainable pressure on local water resources if not handled carefully. These air pollutants can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems, as well as damage to crops, forests, and other ecosystems. There are some complicating aspects about disadvantages of biofuels that we should look at. When biofuels are burned, they produce significantly less carbon output and fewer toxins than carbon fuels. And once the chemicals are in the water supply, bad things can happen. Hundreds -- even thousands -- of unbroken acres of one crop offer an irresistible target for plant pests; pest populations can explode beyond control in such a tempting environment. But the conversions impose additional time and money on the biofuel users. The amount of vegetable oil available in an acre of crops can vary widely, from 18 gallons per acre for corn to 635 gallons for oil palm [source: Journey to Forever]. For example, the process of growing corn to produce ethanol consumes fossil fuels in farming equipment, in fertilizer manufacturing, in corn transportation, and in ethanol distillation. Biofuels may emit lower carbon footprints but the process involved in the production of these fuels largely depends on oil and water. Biodiesel is a renewable and clean-burning fuel that is made from waste vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease for use in diesel vehicles. What are the pros and cons of using crop residues or wastes for biofuel Land use is also a major factor in evaluating the benefits of biofuels. Its lubricating properties are significantly better. This is a great news for sustainable future planning since the use of biofuels is in agreement with the development of a circular economy by closing the loop on resource use. It can be used in pure form (B100) or can be blended with petro-diesel in the form of B2 (2% biodiesel, 98% petroleum diesel), B5 (5% biodiesel, 95% . In the transport sector, they are often used as a substitute for gasoline and diesel fuel. In general, biofuels can be a reliable energy source if they are produced and used in a responsible and sustainable manner.
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