What is Distributed Generation? Most of the waste generated worldwide is biodegradable. 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. 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. 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. The most common types of liquid biofuels are bioethanol and biodiesel. Many common crops could economically produce biofuel in certain parts of the world. Another type of biofuel is biodiesel. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. Researchers are investigating ways to genetically engineer less thirsty crops, and carefully planning what biofuel crops to plant in a given region can mitigate this problem [source: Lau]. 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. Looking for Renewable Energy Device & Equipment Prices? Brazil and the United States are among the leading producers of ethanol. Environment. 2009. Likewise, the fertilizer, water and land required to produce enough biofuel to reduce fossil fuel consumption significantly can create other problems, ranging from increased pollution to decreased access to food. However, ready access to food imports, and the ease of exporting, hinge on a wide range of political and social factors. 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. As of now, the interest and capital investment being put into biofuel production is fairly low, but it can match demand. One way is through direct competition for land, water, and other resources. High Cost of Production Even with all the benefits associated with biofuels, they are quite expensive to produce in the current market. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) determines bioenergy as a renewable energy form. 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. It isn't as effective a fuel as traditional gasoline. Being forced to import oil creates problems for their economy. As the name suggests, biofuels are derived from plant and their products. Consumers living in a low-producing region would need to have biofuel trucked or piped to them, increasing both cost and the amount of emissions produced in production and transport [source: Pimentel]. Ethanol also absorbs water easily giving it a high tendency to corrode materials. The first generation biofuels are produced from food crops grown on arable land. This necessarily destroys animal dwellings, microcosms (micro ecosystems), and reduces the overall health of a region's natural resources. Required fields are marked *. A number of manufacturers sell components for biodiesel and greasecar conversions, and intrepid tinkerers often find ways to overcome the gelling problem. As a breeding ground for bacteria and other contaminants, landfills can allow pollution to contaminate the land, sea and air. It's Not Completely Clean High Costs In Comparison To Other Alternatives Possible Deforestation Production Requires Space It Requires Water It Has Inefficiencies It's Under Development For example, bioethanol, which is produced from plant matter from corn, sugarcane or rapeseed, can be blended with gasoline to create a fuel called E10, which contains 10 percent of bioethanol and 90 percent of gasoline. For example, the production of biofuels can create jobs and stimulate economic development, but it can also lead to higher food prices and competition with other industries for resources. Utilization of Fertilizers 4. Advanced gasification works by thermochemically transforming waste feedstocks using temperatures in excess of 700 and a highly controlled supply of oxygen or steam without using combustion. Aug. 11, 2006. However, fuel ethanol contains denaturants to make fuel ethanol undrinkable. Advantages of incineration. Another way in which biofuel production can compete with food production is through the use of food crops, such as corn, as feedstocks for biofuels rather than spending resources on processing corn for human consumption. This lack of compatibility is one of the reasons that biofuels have not been widely adopted as a replacement for fossil fuels. Compared to petroleum-based gasoline, ethanol is a less effective fuel. "Oil Yields and Characteristics." Since such feedstock material can be replenished readily, biofuel is considered to be a source of renewable energy, unlike fossil fuels such as petroleum, coal, and natural gas. The development of a biofuels industry can have both positive and negative economic impacts, depending on the specific circumstances. Biofuels Disadvantages There are some complicating aspects about disadvantages of biofuels that we should look at. Let's start with one of the main arguments against the use of biofuels. Knowledge awaits. Biofuels are derived from the decomposition of biological or organic waste. Electro fuels are produced by storing electrical energy, and solar fuel is made from solar energy. If you use ethanol for your vehicles, you reduce up to 86% of greenhouse gas emissions more than fossil fuel. Examples include ancient people burning wood and branches to generate fire. Agricultural and Food Policy Center, Texas A&M University. Cellulosic ethanol is commonly made from sugarcane bagasse, a waste product from sugar processing, or from various grasses that can be cultivated on low-quality land. 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. Ignorance Conclusion You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Some of the disadvantages of biofuels apply mainly to low-diversity biofuel sourcescorn, soybeans, sugarcane, oil palmswhich are traditional agricultural crops. "It is logistically available and it is low in value, if not negative in value." Increases Pollution in contrast to wind and solar 10. The energy that is obtained from biofuels is known as bioenergy. In recent years, biofuel development and use has risen significantly. To learn more about biofuels, click to the next page. True, a plant-based fuel comes from a renewable source, while fossil fuels will eventually run out. . Farmers of corn, cotton, and soybeans, all possible sources of biofuel, are increasingly planting genetically modified types of those plants. There are no new technologies yet to simplify the process and make it accessible and low cost. In order for biofuels to become widely used, researchers are working on developing biofuels that are more similar in properties to fossil fuels. Gasoline is refined from crude oil, a non-renewable resource. Let's look at some of the drawbacks of biofuels and gain a new perspective on the fuels we may see more of in the future. Biofuels burn clean, emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases, and are entirely biodegradable. Plantation owners prepared their operations to meet the demand . 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. Anything that is local comes with an extra benefit. 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 garbage to biofuel process is not only an alternative way to produce home . In 2013 Enerkem plans to open a plant there, too, with the help of $130 million in taxpayer funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Department of Energy. The biomass pretreatment is one of the keys to the best use of organic waste and thus enhance the production of a biogas plant. Perhaps the most straightforward of biofuel's drawbacks is the most obvious: It isn't petroleum-based fuel, so it will operate differently in engines designed for petroleum-based fuel. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops/, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. By that time, the corn had been on the market for a season. Lower carbon emissions make them a safer alternative to preserve atmospheric quality and lower air pollution. The character of biofuels when they are only produced from certain feedstocks, such as specific crops, like rapeseed, or certain waste materials, means that they may be in limited supply. "It's a pittance being spent on reducing our dependence on oil than putting our boys in harm's way overseas," says Coskata's Wesley Bolsen, chief marketing officer and vice president for government affairs. But large-scale biofuel production, especially corn products and in arid regions of the world, has to share limited water resources with drinking and irrigation needs. Biofuels - Some crops, like corn and sugar cane, can be converted into a biofuel called ethanol. . Biofuel is commonly advocated as a cost-effective and environmentally benign alternative to petroleum and other fossil fuels, particularly within the context of rising petroleum prices and increased concern over the contributions made by fossil fuels to global warming. 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. ", David Biello is a contributing editor at Scientific American. This is a problem that biofuel crops, food crops, gardens, and lawns have in common all over the world. Lets explore the pros and cons of biofuels in order to better understand their future potential as our energy source. However, in terms of cost, the overall benefits of using biofuels are much higher. 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. Biofuels have some advantages over their counterparts. What are the economic drawbacks of using biofuels. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The cost of biofuel production can vary depending on the type of biofuel, the location, and the specific technologies used. The regional nature of high-producing plants such as palm oil means that certain parts of the world are agricultural gold mines: Biofuel demand motivates plantations to expand quickly. 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. Relying on produce from halfway around the globe to feed a hungry nation is a risky price to pay for widespread biofuel integration into the world's energy supplies. During initial tests of a modified strain of corn, researchers discovered that the crop, which had been engineered to fight off a moth known to prey on corn, produced pollen that could possibly kill larvae of the monarch butterfly. 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. Plant-based fuel can be produced almost anywhere, comes from a renewable resource and often produces cleaner emissions than petroleum-based fuel. The development of new biofuels technologies can support innovation and drive economic growth in a sustainable way. Biofuel is the fuel created through contemporary processes from biomass instead of the very gradual geological processes associated with the formation of fossil fuels, such as natural gas or oil. This can lead to food insecurity in local communities and increase in food prices. 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. Biogas is used predominantly in the electricity sector. Furthermore, the burning of coal and oil raises the temperature and warms the planet. In this regard, cellulosic biomass is considered to be more beneficial. Bioenergy is less expensive. The Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuels. In the United States the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandated the use of 136 billion litres (36 billion gallons) of biofuels annually by 2022, more than a sixfold increase over 2006 production levels.
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