Biofuels are becoming an increasingly important alternative to traditional forms of energy
Even though production of biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, is rapidly increasing, their contribution to total fuel consumption will remain limited. Biofuels are sources of energy produced directly or indirectly from organic material including animal waste and plant material. In order to be considered a biofuel, at least 80% of the fuel must be made from renewable materials. There are 3 main types of biofuels: ethanol, biodiesel and biojet fuel. Biofuels are considered to be renewable since they can be replaced as quickly as they are used however biofuels biofuel production requires the use of fossil fuels in the form of fertilizers, agrochemicals,
…show more content…
These would be: the cost, the fact that there is an unlimited supply of resources to make the fuel with, it’s a renewable source that benefits our environment and it leads to economic stimulation and. First of all, the cost is an advantage since biofuels have to potential to be significantly less expensive than petroleum or any fossil fuel. This is possible due to the increasing worldwide demand for oil. Meanwhile, the supply for oil is diminishing, making biofuels more desirable whilst the prices are constantly fluctuating. Whereas fossil fuels are limited since they come from specific materials years ago, biofuels are renewable (since you can always produce more if it runs out) and can be manufactured from a variety of materials such as: crop waste, manure and other byproducts. This takes recycling to a new constructive level. Likewise, the amount of carbon emissions will also decrease drastically since when biofuels are used, they produce significantly less carbon and fewer toxins. This also makes them a safer alternative in order to preserve atmospheric quality and lower air pollution. In terms of economic stimulation, the economy will find stability as when using biofuels you can disregard afore mentioned fluctuating oil prices due to change in demand. This is because biofuels are produced locally. This will also lead to multiple job opportunities, resulting less unemployment, which is incredibly advantageous economically. Biofuel …show more content…
In fact, bioenergy covers an estimate of 10% of total world energy demand. According to the US Energy Information Administration, “the US produced more than 13.3 billion gallons of ethanol in 2013.” International organizations, as well as biofuel associations, have predicted the global growth of biofuel production in 2020 as they are expected to be a great substitute worldwide and they aren’t climate specific either like other renewable sources like solar or wind power. The PEW Charitable Trusts’ report suggests “the US is the current leader in biofuel investments with $1.5bn in 2012.” However, investment in biofuels fell by 47%, globally, between 2011 and 2012. Brazil and the US are responsible for the majority of global bioethanol production. International trade of biofuel is expected to grow rapidly over the next decade, mainly with exports from Brazil to the US and EU. However, biodiesel trade isn’t expected to grow due to matters with trade in palm oil and increased national production of biodiesel by consuming countries. In 2010, the European Biodiesel Board estimated that the European biodiesel production total was 9.6 million metric tons. They believe that the EU is responsible for over 50% of the world’s biodiesel output. However, production decreased by 10% to 8.6 metric tons in
Pollan explains this situation in the quote, “ What 's involved in absorbing all this excess biomass goes a long way toward explaining several seemingly unconnected phenomena, from the rise of factory farms and the industrialization of our food, to the epidemic of obesity and prevalence of food poisoning in America…”, portrays the waste of vital resources being inputted into a larger issue. Because most people in America are unaware of these problems being directly correlated from the waste of oils and assets, we become blind to how it will affect us as a whole. However, Eisenhower expressed his concern with our excessive use of resources when he stated, “ As we peer into society’s future, we-- you andI, and our government-- must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for our own ease and convenience the precious resources of tomorrow.” Truly, we need to find a solution to this epidemic so our resources of today do not become a history of
The Marcellus Shale It is the largest source of natural gas in the United States, and is located in Appalachian basin which stretches from Tennessee to New York and covers West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The Marcellus Shale has a lot of marine sedimentary rock because of the different sea level changes 400 million years ago that deposited minerals. It contains black shale and lighter shale mixed with limestone .It has many benefits, but it comes with disadvantage disadvantages. For humans to get access to the natural gas they have to drill deep into the ground and create a well which can go from 5,000 to 9,000 feet deep. They use a method of drilling called
Texas is known for its agricultural land, especially in West Texas, and can expand biomass energy and reduce the use of non-renewable resources. For example, “Texas also has several biogas facilities that recycle organic waste into renewable energy” (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Page 4). 8 Not only is this energy source renewable but it is recycling waste into a valuable resource. Texas “also has eight biodiesel plants that can produce about 380 million gallons of biodiesel each year” (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Page 4). 9
Ethanol fuel would be our way of changing to better the environment and our
Did you know that in factory farms, the majority of chickens, turkeys, and ducks have their beaks removed to prevent cannibalism? What about that egg-laying hens are sometimes starved up to 14 days, exposed to different light patterns, and not given water to shock their bodies into molting? Many people live their lives not knowing of the cruelties that occur in a factory farm. Last year I had an older friend that worked at a factory farm specifically for pigs. One day when I was visiting him, I asked how he liked his job that he had recently gotten hired on to.
They are two crucial aspects to the topic of energy, but are not included by the UN. A determinant reason that millions of people across the globe have to resort to biomass to cook is that the cost associated with modern energy makes it less accessible (Birol, p.1). This unfortunate situation is due to many reasons. A key reason is that many of the resources required to install energy plants are disproportionally controlled by a few geopolitical actors. This causes large fluctuations on the commodity prices all over the globe, making not only modern energy, but also other basic human development targets, such as shelters and transportations less attainable (Regnier, p.2).
Continuing on our current path condemns us to a future of more extreme weather, disease, famine, forced migration, and armed conflict. We need to show the American people what a clean energy revolution can do—create millions of new jobs, improve our infrastructure, environment, and public health, and ensure the society we leave to our children and grandchildren is stronger than the one we found. In solidarity, Shailene Woodley Board Member Our
There is a quote by President Barack Obama saying, “To truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy,” (“151 Inspiring Environmental Quotes”). He believes as many due that nonrenewable resources are harmful to all aspects of life. The energy we use now is harmful to our planet, to humans, and to animals. Scientists are taking steps to making the world a better place. They found sources that replenished naturally in a short amount of time and are less destructive in all aspects.
Research question: How can peak oil impact the economic, social, environmental impact, consumer and producer? What is Peak oil? Peak oil is the maximum extraction of petroleum when reached a certain level. Who is the founder of peak oil?
What is fractional distillation? Fractional distillation is a method of separating miscible liquids using heat. This technique is used for the separation of liquids which dissolve in each other. Several simple distillations are completed during fractional distillation using only one apparatus.
It is commonly known throughout human history that the energy used is burned from coal which creates biomass. During the Industrial Revolution, coal was an essential need to everyone, hence the discovery of oil as a substitute. Yet, the mass formation from the unearthing of oil causes more damage than benefits for the planet. Humanity had never seen a more compatible source in which came a higher demand for oil. As the public has urged to generate more oil, scientists theorized that fossil fuels will eventually run out, making way for a renewable energy route in the future (Mason).
Almost none of the fuel sources that we could use provide Co2 or other pollutants. Economic values could also come from renewable energy. Most of the Energy projects are located away from big cities. These benefits could bring local service as well as tourism. Although the pros are very big there are some cons.
Global climate change constitutes arguably the single most important threat to mankind. From the onset of the industrial revolution, greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), including carbon dioxide (CO2) have increasingly built up in the atmosphere, causing the climate to warm up slowly but steadily (IPCC, 2014). NASA predicts that 2016 will mark the hottest year on record. The effects of global warming are ubiquitous: Greenland’s glacier and the Arctic ice cap are melting, ocean levels are rising, occurrences of extreme weather are increasing, including hurricanes and areas of either intense drought or flooding. Collectively, these changes and their direct consequences are an imminent danger and they directly affect other urgent issues humanity is
these are based on fossil fuels like coal, petrol, diesel, kerosene and natural gases. Fossil fuels are obtained from biologically degradable materials such as plant and animal but undergoing million years of excessive heat, pressure, chemical and biological reactions. Thus formation of these fuels takes very long time. Also they are non-renewable sources of energy.
For instance, in Vietnam fossil fuels is the main fuels to address basic demand and for export, but in 2030 Vietnam