What is biofuel?: Biofuel, also called agrofuel, is fuel that is mixed with parts of biological material. It can be made of relatively any material from ethanol, wood, vegetable oil and even algae. It is a possible substitute for petroleum fuel for vehicles.
Advantages:
- Using biofuels can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted. They are a much cleaner source of energy then conventional sources.
- As more and more biofuel is created there will be increased energy security for the country producing it, as they will not have to rely on imports or foreign volatile markets.
- First generation biofuels can save up to 60% carbon emissions and second-generation biofuels can save up to 80%.
- Biofuels will create a brand new job infrastructure and will help support local economies. This is especially true in third world countries.
- There can be a reduction in fossil fuel use.
- Biofuel operations help rural development.
- Biodiesel can be used in any diesel vehicle and it reduces the number of vibrations, smoke and noise produced.
- Biodiesel is biodegradable.
- They are non-toxic.
- They are renewable.
- Biodiesel has a high flash point, making it safer and less likely to burn after an accident.
Disadvantages:
- The capital cost is over 700 million dollars to develop secondary biofuel processes which would yield a better quality and more efficient fuel and reduce greenhouse gas emissions even more.
- Biofuels are neither carbon neutral or negative as all the processes which are used to create them such as transportation, fertilizer manufacturing, fuel used for machinery, et cetera.
-Some times the production of some biofuels actually leads to more green house gas emissions then they decrease such as in the case of rapeseed corn.
- The techniques used to find out how good biofuels are for the environment usually do not take into account other gasses emitted such as nitrous oxide which some times happen to be more prominent after biofuels have been used.
- Biofuels take a large expanse of area to grow. Land will have to be cleared for more growth. If rainforests and other high biomass lands are cleared on a mass scale for biofuel production (which may happen in lower income countries) then the amount of green house gases emitted would be staggering, up to 420 times more GHG’s emitted. Multiple studies have been found to draw the same conclusion.
- Biofuel may raise the price of certain foods, which are also used for biofuel such as corn.
- Biofuel development and production is still heavily dependent on Oil.
- As other plants are replaced, soil erosion will grow.
- A lot of water is used to water the plants, especially in dry climates.
- Deforestation in South America and South Eastern Asia causes loss of habitat for animals and for indigenous people living there.
- New technologies will have be developed for vehicles for them to use these fuels. This will increase their prices significantly.
