And once the engine's running, the differences in combustion properties between gasoline and ethanol means that the ethanol-converted engine needs to have its ignition timing adjusted to operate properly [source: Tsuneishi]. Ethanol-production facilities use far more electricity to run than they produce in fuel. Compared to petroleum-based gasoline, ethanol is a less effective fuel. So, it could be a threat to food security or access to adequate nutritious food for the population. And the singular nature of a monoculture crop increases the risk of a total loss for the farmer; imagine the damage if a severe strain of corn blight hit an ethanol-producing corn farm [source: Altieri]. First, there is the issue of output. The process is not always cost-effective: Yes, though it may pay cash to the contributors, the truth is this process needs a lot of money, time and land to set up a plant and run. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determines bioenergy as a renewable energy form. Except providing new livelihood opportunities for local families, they could also represent a sustainable and innovative option that will contribute to rural development. Hydrogenating, or treating the oil with hydrogen, can mitigate this problem, but increased processing means increased cost [source: Journey to Forever]. "The Economics of Ethanol from Sweet Sorghum Using the MixAlco Process." A major concern people face is that the growing use of biofuels may also mean a growth in food prices. Some of these chemicals, which are mostly related to the combustion of non-biomass materials in garbage, can be hazardous to people and the environment if they are not properly controlled. Utilizing our garbage may help keep flora and fauna healthy, resulting in a healthier ecosystem. Disadvantages of Biofuels | The Research Pedia Additionally, biofuel production can also lead to changes in land use patterns, which can displace local communities and increase the cost of land. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Its also worth noting that the cost of fossil fuels fluctuates greatly depending on the market and political situation. It increases costs as well as the emissions produced in production and transport. Can Biofuels From Algae or Garbage Solve Our Energy Problems The production of biofuels often leads to land use changes, such as the conversion of natural habitats to cropland. Biofuels are often produced from crops such as corn, sugarcane, and palm oil, which can be grown on a large scale. But it is even more economical solution in terms of paying a cost set by international political agreements. 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. It also prevents crop rotation and in turn prevents the soil from recovery from nutritional depletion. List of Cons of Biofuels 1. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. 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. 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]. Biofuels are made from a wide range of materials. Fossil fuels are non-renewable and release greenhouse gases during their combustion. Corrections? Technical Challenges Perhaps the simplest drawback of biofuels is that it is not petroleum-based fuel so that they will work differently in engines developed for petroleum-based fuel. When fossil fuels burn, they produce large amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide. Engines designed to operate on biofuels produce lower emissions than other diesel engines. If you use ethanol for your vehicles, you reduce up to 86% of greenhouse gas emissions more than fossil fuel. Biofuels are often not compatible with traditional fossil fuel infrastructure because they have different chemical and physical properties. Algae has the same concerns of monoculture that the agriculture industry experiences. Many common crops could economically produce biofuel in certain parts of the world. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops/, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. Biodiesel, which has found greatest acceptance in Europe, is used in diesel engines and usually blended with petroleum diesel fuel in various percentages. "Biofuels and their Impact on Food Prices." The Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuels. One way to counter this lies in simple diplomacy: The globalization of world commerce means that it's now easier than ever to move food supplies from one part of the world to another in response to increased demand. There is a variety of applications, including electricity generation, and heating. Long-time monoculture farms have to use much more artificial fertilizer than their more sustainable peers, increasing water pollution. It takes up to 1.4 gallons of ethanol to replicate the mileage that 1 gallon of gasoline can provide. Biofuels - Disadvantages of Biofuels But the conversions add time and money to the biofuel equation, something that can be off-putting for potential biofuel users. And. Advantages & Disadvantages of Ethanol Biofuel - Physics Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass Energy Green Square One alternative involves the use of highly diverse mixtures of species, with the North American tallgrass prairie as a specific example. However, the cost of biofuel production has been decreasing in recent years due to advancements in technology and economies of scale. The main disadvantage to using corn crops for biofuel production is the effect it would have on food crops and prices around the world. Anything that is local comes with an extra benefit. Consumers living in a low-producing region need to have biofuel by moving through pipes or trucks to them. and B.P. It contributes to deforestation 4. Although this is an economically attractive measure, the greater economic profitability for the farmer can make serious environmental disadvantages. Disadvantages No fuel is perfect, and there are some biofuel disadvantages - especially if plants are grown specifically. Phosphorus has been implicated as a trigger of localized algae blooms: The tiny aquatic plants feed off it and rapidly reproduce, often killing other plants and aquatic animals by reducing the amount of oxygen in water or by releasing toxic chemicals. Jan. 31, 2007. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Adjunct Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota. After all, a better harvest will lower prices and ensure there is enough corn or soybeans on hand to feed and provide the fuel to the world. 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. Second, the oil these plants produce is not equal. The oil in their grains is pressed out, filtered, and reformed to fuel by a chemical process. In addition, biofuels are biodegradable, which reduces the risk of contamination of and underground water during transportation, storage, or use. Lets have a look at the main advantages of biofuels over fossil fuels: Biofuels replenish over time, whereas fossil fuels are non-renewable and will eventually run out. The mere biomass energy definition of turning waste to electricity is an exciting prospect and one that any logic dictates as a good idea to pursue. Biofuels are also used with success for heating buildings. However, the high greenhouse emissions, deadly air pollution, instable fossil-based energy prices, and strong growth of global transportation fuel demand have boosted extensive research efforts in developing bioenergy. Technologies that allow to completely disrupt biomass, make it more homogeneous and reduce their retention time, are therefore necessary to ensure their effective loading and their complete digestion in the plant and help to reduce some disadvantages of biogas . Biofuel production boosts the demand for suitable biofuel products and strengthens the agriculture industry. Some of the disadvantages of biofuels apply mainly to low-diversity biofuel sourcescorn, soybeans, sugarcane, oil palmswhich are traditional agricultural crops. But since many popular biofuel crops, such as corn and soybeans, are also popular food sources for much of the world, it stands to reason that the problems related to monoculture could get much worse as consumers demand more biofuel. The major disadvantage to using algae to produce biofuels is the cost, which in part is due to the fact that the practice of using algae to produce biofuels is relatively new and requires additional research and development to find less costly production methods. It has a lower cost for the environment, as it doesnt have to be brought over a long distance, releasing carbon dioxide emissions. But is this energy source such a positive news as it seems at the first glance? Here at Linquip you can send inquiries to all Renewable Energy suppliers and receive quotations for free, Your email address will not be published. Biofuel is used to power vehicles, and is being produced by gasification in countries such as Sweden, Austria, and the . To learn more about biofuels, click to the next page. Web. This means they require more space to store the same amount of energy than fossil fuels. Monoculture isn't a problem confined to biofuel production; it's an issue that had been studied for years in relation to large-scale food crop production. Additionally, they have a higher viscosity than fossil fuels, which can eventually lead to clogging or damage of fuel filters, injectors, and pumps. 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. 2007. November 2007. Some of the disadvantages of biofuels apply mainly to low-diversity biofuel sourcescorn, soybeans, sugarcane, oil palmswhich are traditional agricultural crops. Future Price Growth 8. Aug. 11, 2006. Biodiesel, that is produced from animal fats or vegetable oils, can be used as a replacement for diesel fuel in heavy-duty work vehicles like trucks or buses. Some scientists argue that producing enough biodiesel or ethanol to replace one gallon of petroleum fuel needs energy equal to several gallons value of petroleum fuel. Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy - Inspire Clean Energy Biofuels are a more. Gasoline is refined from crude oil, a non-renewable resource. Knowledge awaits. Ethanol can be used instead of gasoline in many cars. What are the economic advantages of using biofuels? At the same time, biofuels generally have a lower energy density per unit of mass than fossil fuels such as gasoline or diesel. Advantages and Disadvantages of Anaerobic Digestion vs Composting The cost of biofuel production can vary depending on the type of biofuel, the location, and the specific technologies used. The transition to biofuels will affect especially economic sectors of agriculture, manufacture, reprocessing, recycling, and transportation. Alexander, C. et al. Captured carbon dioxide could be sequestered (stored) in long-term repositories such as geologic formations beneath the land, in sediments of the deep ocean, or conceivably as solids such as carbonates. Omissions? With international trends swinging toward sustainable transportation, fuels such as corn-based ethanol and biodiesel from soy, switchgrass and palm oil seem like a good step toward cleaner, greener highways. 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. In diverting arable land and feedstock from the human food chain, biofuel production can affect the economics of food price and availability. 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]. However, in terms of cost, the overall benefits of using biofuels are much higher. 10 Biggest Pros and Cons of Biofuels - Green Garage 167.99.130.146 Overall, the reliability of biofuels as an energy source will depend on the specific circumstances of their production and use. University of Minnesota. Bloomberg Businessweek. List of the Disadvantages of Ethanol. The sun stores resources into these materials thanks to photosynthesis. However, most of these crops are also accepted as food products. Biofuel can be produced from plants or commercial, agricultural, domestic, or industrial wastes with a biological origin. Examples include ancient people burning wood and branches to generate fire. ", David Biello is a contributing editor at Scientific American. Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass - Green Coast Read more about us. In other words, not all biofuel crops are created equal. While technology eventually will limit these ratios, the ratio of energy input to the output of modern biofuel production is an important disadvantage to its widespread use. 22 Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuels - Environment Go! Import Tuner. The proper way to grow biofuels to serve all needs simultaneously will continue to be a matter of much experimentation and debate, but the fast growth in biofuel production will likely continue. Disadvantages of Biofuels Despite the benefits, there are some disadvantages of biofuels that make the general population hesitant to use them. Because biomass technically can be used directly as a fuel, sometimes the terms biomass and biofuel are used interchangeably. 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. (Nov. 16, 2010)http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/business/worldbusiness/31biofuel.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1290625375-G4EOxMpw99oBdvPcW6DvCw, Tsuneishi, Scott. Bioenergy is less expensive. What are the pros and cons of using crop residues or wastes for biofuel But there's another complication that arises with this selection. Monoculture refers to the production of one concentrated crop rather than the rotating of different crops through a farmers field over time. However, fuel ethanol contains denaturants to make fuel ethanol undrinkable. Utilization of Fertilizers 4. To put it another way, think about a field of corn being grown for ethanol. The following figure shows the biodiesel cycle schematically. All of these plants grow better when given fertilizer. See also carbon sequestration. With the removal of impurities from biogas, biomethane is produced. There are no new technologies yet to simplify the process and make it accessible and low cost. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. 23 Biomass Energy Advantages and Disadvantages - Vittana.org Sugar Cane Until recently, sugar cane was the world's main source of ethanol, because of its prevalence in Brazil. Farmers of corn, soybeans and cotton -- all potential biofuel sources -- are increasingly planting genetically modified versions of those plants [source: United States Department of Agriculture]. This is a problem that biofuel crops, food crops, gardens, and lawns have in common all over the world. Weather issue 11. "The Ripple Effect: Biofuels, Food Security and the Environment." Advantages of incineration. Biofuels costs are affected by these fluctuations, so when the price of fossil fuels is high, biofuels can be more cost-competitive. Biofuels Advantages and Disadvantages | Renew Method Thanks for reading Scientific American. 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. Soil, groundwater and air pollution. Even if plant waste can be used as raw material, the demand for these products will still exist. Scientists sounded the alarm, and further tests by academic and industry researchers confirmed that the corn's pollen posed a threat to monarchs. (2022 Guideline). Biofuel production using food crops such as corn, soybeans and sorghum has the potential to alter drastically the world's access to affordable food. What is biofuel? What are the advantages and disadvantages? 100% Biodiesel is actually just as biodegradable as sugar and ten times less toxic when compared with table salt. 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. They produce industrial pollution. A 2005 study suggested that, using current farming and production technology, it takes anywhere from 27 to 118 percent more energy to produce a gallon of biodiesel than the energy it contains [source: Pimentel]. The clearing of land can also result in the sudden release of a large amount of carbon dioxide as the plant matter that it contains is burned or allowed to decay. There are several different types of biofuels: liquid biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel; solid biofuels like wood pellets, fuelwood, or animals waste; and biogas like landfill gas. This means that when garbage rots in landfills, that stinky gas can be used for energy! 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. (Jan. 14, 2011)http://www.environmentmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues/November%202007/Naylor-Nov07-full.html, Pimentel, David and Tad W. Patzek. (Jan. 14, 2011)http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/ID/ID-346-W.pdf, Altieri, Miguel A.
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