Therefore, the use of biofuels is less of a drain on the wallet. Many common crops could economically produce biofuel in certain parts of the world. In any case, the regeneration of biofuels is also not fast enough to be considered a renewable energy source. "The Economics of Ethanol from Sweet Sorghum Using the MixAlco Process." Many biofuel crops are used to make biodiesel. Knowledge awaits. 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? This necessarily destroys animal dwellings, microcosms (micro ecosystems), and reduces the overall health of a region's natural resources. Its application in transport industry would cut a big part of the air pollution originating from this growing industry [2]. On the other end, if previously untouched natural ecosystem is transformed into a monoculture field than there is a high chance that pesticide pollution will appear and will affect the surrounding environment. Bioethanol is a type of alcohol produced by fermentation, often from carbohydrates made in sugar or starchy crops like corn, sugarcane, or sweet sorghum. We are going to describe these advantages in this section. 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. In addition, biofuels are biodegradable, which reduces the risk of contamination of and underground water during transportation, storage, or use. Disadvantages of Biofuels Despite the benefits, there are some disadvantages of biofuels that make the general population hesitant to use them. However, other biofuel crops, such as switchgrass and miscanthus, are considered to be low-input crops and need less pesticides. The oil in their grains is pressed out, filtered, and reformed to fuel by a chemical process. Which brings us to the second advantage. . Examples include ancient people burning wood and branches to generate fire. 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. To learn more about biofuels, click to the next page. Biofuels Advantages and Disadvantages | Renew Method Carbon monoxide emissions are lower than that . (Nov. 19, 2010)http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_yield.html, Lau, Michael H. et al. Biofuels are made from various sources, including manure, crop waste, algae, other byproducts, and plants grown specifically for fuel. Will alternative fuels deplete global corn supplies? Consumers living in a low-producing region need to have biofuel by moving through pipes or trucks to them. There are some complicating aspects about disadvantages of biofuels that we should look at. Consequently, it makes sense to look for an unsaturated oil as a biofuel source. As the name suggests, biofuels are derived from plant and their products. As a result, looking for unsaturated oil as a biofuel source is reasonable. The water demands of some biofuel crops can put unsustainable pressure on local water resources if not handled carefully. 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. These landfills not only spread foul smell but also contaminate underground water sources. Explore our digital archive back to 1845, including articles by more than 150 Nobel Prize winners. The plant will turn 300 metric tons of raw fluff per day into 36 million liters of ethanol per year. But there's another complication that arises with this selection. Converting degraded agricultural land that is out of production to such high-diversity biofuel sources could increase wildlife area, reduce erosion, cleanse waterborne pollutants, store carbon dioxide from the air as carbon compounds in the soil, and ultimately restore fertility to degraded lands. The Main Types and Uses of Biofuels | TheEarthProject.com High Cost of Production Even with all the benefits associated with biofuels, they are quite expensive to produce in the current market. During their combustion in furnaces and boilers, they produce heat just like fossil fuels do. The use of biofuels can therefore help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to a more sustainable energy system. (2022 Guideline). It occupies agricultural space from other crops, which can cause many problems. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. (Jan. 14, 2011)http://www.afpc.tamu.edu/pubs/2/446/RR%2006-2.pdf, McKenna, Phil. Anything that is local comes with an extra benefit. 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. All rights reserved. Advantages of Biofuels. Advantages of Biofuels Biofuels costs have been declining and are likely to be far cheaper than petrol and other fossil fuels. Ethanol can be used instead of gasoline in many cars. (Jan. 14, 2011)http://www.springerlink.com/content/r1552355771656v0/, Rosen, C.J. However, ready access to food imports, and the ease of exporting, hinge on a wide range of political and social factors. They emit less carbon dioxide and other emissions when burned than standard diesel. The lower energy density means that transportation and storage of biofuels could be more challenging and may increase the cost of using biofuels as the main fuel source. In this article, we will describe the points related to this issue. Advantages and disadvantages of biofuels - Power Knot As a result, converting plant biomass to ethanol requires processing much larger amounts of feed stock to produce the same amount of biofuel than conventional biofuels. Continue reading with a Scientific American subscription. 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]. University of Minnesota. Studies show that biofuels decrease greenhouse gases by up to 65 percent. The problem is worse for pure vegetable oil as a fuel in so-called grease cars. Advantages and Disadvantages of Biomass Energy Green Square 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. "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. There is a variety of applications, including electricity generation, and heating. With aims such as reducing the costs of biofuel, it enables high-value products from biomass or waste resources, as well as the reduction in the cost of bioenergy production. Bioenergy is less expensive. However, this is not the only reason to encourage the use of biofuels. While the advantages of biomass energy are plenty, there are also some shortcomings, including: 1. Environmental, Economic, and Social Impacts of Biofuel Production from Syngas is a mix of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other hydrocarbons, which is produced by partial combustion of biomass. Follow David Biello on Twitter. When biofuels are burned, they produce significantly less carbon output and fewer toxins than carbon fuels. The first generation biofuels are produced from food crops grown on arable land. . Your email address will not be published. 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. What does it mean? Ch 15/16/17 Flashcards | Quizlet For example, bioethanol and biodiesel have a higher tendency to absorb moisture than fossil fuels, which can cause corrosion in fuel systems and engines. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Syngas can be utilized to make methanol, DME, and hydrogen. So, extensive production of biofuel is a negative-sum game. Drivers of vehicles using these fuels often have heating units installed to keep the fuel tank and lines free from gelled fuel, or install dual-fuel systems that flush the engine with petroleum diesel on start-up and shut-down. Many critics express concerns about the scope of the expansion of certain biofuels because of the economic and environmental costs associated with the refining process and the potential removal of vast areas of arable land from food production. Compared with making ethanol from crops, the environmental benefits of making it from waste are clear: It diminishes the demand for landfills and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. An unfortunate disadvantage of biogas today is that the systems used in the production of biogas are not efficient. However, in terms of cost, the overall benefits of using biofuels are much higher. By burning solid waste, the amount of garbage dumped in landfills is reduced by 60 to 90 percent, and reduces the cost of landfill disposal and amount of land required for landfill. In the end, making a fuel from garbage remains a promising opportunityas long as the waste is already divvied up into its own component parts, as is happening in Edmonton and at the Three Rivers landfill near Pontotoc, Miss. But we must realize that nothing in life is straightforward and applicable to all situations. It has the same advantages as for AD (items 3 to 6 inclusive) over spreading untreated organic waste material on land. Biofuel crops are no different from petunias or peppers in this regard. All Rights Reserved. Biofuels each have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. Advantages and Disadvantages of Waste Management - Wisestep Temperate zone plant biomass per hectare could be as high as 20 t. Switchgrass have reported yields up to 30 t ha 1. Disadvantages of Biofuels. 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. The production of biofuels can compete with food production for land and resources, which can lead to higher food prices. 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. Biodiesel is less efficient than gasoline Biomass: Should we focus on more eco-friendly renewable energy? Biofuel is used to power vehicles, and is being produced by gasification in countries such as Sweden, Austria, and the . 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. Given that the conversion rate is lower than with first-generation biofuels, cellulosic ethanol is dominantly used as a gasoline additive. What is biomass? 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.. Additionally, the amount of water used in biofuel production is also affected by the specific farming practices used. Purdue Extension. What are the disadvantages of biofuels? Also, It increases microbial growth in the engine, making the engine filters clogged. Even if plant waste can be used as raw material, the demand for these products will still exist. If farmers are incentivized to plant crops that are not well suited for the location, they may end up needing more water than any other crops would. Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuels | Greentumble List of Cons of Biofuels 1. 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% . This lessens the risk of respiratory illnesses due to reduced air pollution. Most fossil fuels will expire one day. PhotoAlto/James Hardy/Getty Images "Biofuel" is a major buzzword in transportation circles these days, and for good reason. Read more about us. In diverting arable land and feedstock from the human food chain, biofuel production can affect the economics of food price and availability. Because biomass technically can be used directly as a fuel, sometimes the terms biomass and biofuel are used interchangeably. If the land used to grow a biofuel feedstock has to be cleared of native vegetation, then ecological damage is done in three ways. 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]. 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]. Bloomberg Businessweek. These fossil fuel stores are practically finite. Given all the negative effects, ethanol which is derived from crops does not make economical sense as a mainstream biofuel. When the plant biomass is burned, it releases this absorbed carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. . Biomass and Biofuel Advantages and Disadvantages - Vista Projects
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