Which brings us to the second advantage. While technology may eventually narrow those ratios, the input-output energy ratio of modern biofuel production is a major drawback to its widespread use. Biofuel is used to power vehicles, and is being produced by gasification in countries such as Sweden, Austria, and the . Restored and gently maintained land will yield enough biomass for biofuel production at lower need for synthetic substances, such as pesticides or fungicides. Researchers found that the crop engineered to fight off a moth known as prey on corn created pollen that could kill larvae of the monarch butterfly. 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. Pure ethanol and biodiesel are nontoxic and biodegradable, and if spilled, they break down into harmless substances. This is a serious contra argument to consider especially with climate change already shifting our ability to grow crops in certain areas. Although the creation of biofuels produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct, it is often used to grow the plants that are converted into fuel. #1 Land use changes and land grabbing References: Ann, Ngee. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2e12d729352bd1 Many of the studies show that the machinery used to cultivate crops emits large quantities of carbon emissions. Soil, groundwater and air pollution. But if the tractors that tend the field burn 75 gallons of fuel in the season, the truck to transport the corn to a processor burns 20 gallons on the trip, and the processor uses the energy of 40 gallons of fuel to run its distillation equipment, is the ethanol produced really an environmentally friendly, low-emission fuel? The penalty for the convenience of not annotating object lifetime manually in the source code is overhead, often leading to decreased or . Segregating organic waste from the garbage to generate Biogas considerably reduces wastes from landfills. With the removal of impurities from biogas, biomethane is produced. One way is through direct competition for land, water, and other resources. "Measuring Corn Ethanol's Thirst for Water." While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. 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. It is also important to consider the full life cycle of biofuels, from production to end-use to ensure that they are used in the most sustainable and efficient manner possible. The development of new biofuels technologies can support innovation and drive economic growth in a sustainable way. Making biofuels from waste makes dollars--and sense, Edmonton is Canada's chief oil city as well as the capital of Alberta, the province that hosts the bulk of the country's tar sands. Hundreds and even thousands of hectares of unbroken acres of one crop are an irresistible destination for plant pests; pest groups can explode uncontrollably in this tempting environment. Another type of biofuel is biodiesel. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Because of the higher-than-petroleum gel point of many biodiesel-producing oils, a biodiesel engine can be difficult -- if not impossible -- to start in cold weather. Scientists sounded the alarm, and further tests by academic and industry researchers confirmed that the corn's pollen posed a threat to monarchs. There are no new technologies yet to simplify the process and make it accessible and low cost. Biofuel production boosts the demand for suitable biofuel products and strengthens the agriculture industry. 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]. There is a variety of applications, including electricity generation, and heating. 1. Many fertilizers contain nitrogen and phosphorus. Air quality sensing of particulate matter shows that levels of this damaging pollutant are high around such sites. Biofuel Disadvantage : Environmental Impact. . They are cleaner fuels, meaning that they produce fewer emissions during burning. 2. Jan. 31, 2007. It occupies agricultural space from other crops, which can cause many problems. Biodiesel, as the most common biofuel in Europe, is generated from oils or fats using transesterification. ), which scientists call biomass. What is Distributed Generation? 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. "Modern Agriculture: Ecological impacts and the possibilities for truly sustainable farming." New York City spends roughly $400 million each year to transport 14 million tons of waste to incinerators and landfills. Biofuel does produce lower carbon emissions but their production does depend on water and oil. "Environmental Effects of Genetically Modified Food Crops -- Recent Experiences." Disadvantages of Biofuels 1. Central to the problem is corn's relatively high water requirement. If the land used to grow a biofuel feedstock has to be cleared of native vegetation, then ecological damage is done in three ways. Some of the disadvantages of biofuels apply mainly to low-diversity biofuel sourcescorn, soybeans, sugarcane, oil palmswhich are traditional agricultural crops. In the United States ethanol biofuel is made primarily from corn (maize) grain, and it is typically blended with gasoline to produce gasohol, a fuel that is 10 percent ethanol. These fossil fuel stores are practically finite. 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. Biofuels each have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. Here at Linquip you can send inquiries to all Renewable Energy suppliers and receive quotations for free, Your email address will not be published. It seemed like a win-win idea: European demand for biofuel was set to spike, driven in part by regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Such biofuels could be burned directly to generate electricity or converted to liquid fuels as technologies develop. 2015-2023 Greentumble. "Essentially, we intersect [with the waste] before it goes to the landfill, where it would just contribute to the methane gas already coming from there," says Ineos business manager, Dan Cummings. That's why Waste Management, Inc., has invested in a slew of such waste-to-energy companies, including Enerkem. . Researchers are exploring techniques to genetically engineer less thirsty crops. The garbage to biofuel process is not only an alternative way to produce home . Studies show that the machinery needed to cultivate the crops emits large carbon emissions. 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. The biofuels advantages and disadvantages depend entirely on their nature and how they are accessed. MIT Technology Review. Biomass is plant or animal material like wood, energy crops, and waste from forests, farms, or yards utilized as fuel to generate electricity or heat. The conversion from one fuel to the other, in some cases, requires a range of new injectors, gaskets and fuel lines. The biomass pretreatment is one of the keys to the best use of organic waste and thus enhance the production of a biogas plant. For the billions of people who live on only a few dollars per day, even a small increase in food prices could put their access to proper nutrition at risk. Biodiesel can be made from vegetable oils and animal fats. 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. Disadvantages of Composting If the composted materials contain waste types such as animal or food waste there is a risk that diseases (for example "foot and mouth") may be spread in the compost. Although current gas reservoirs will remain available for many years, they will deplete in anot-too-distant future. As the demand for biofuels increases, it is also possible that they will become cheaper in the future. Biofuel is produced from renewable resources and relatively less-flammable than fossil diesel. While biofuels certainly have many potential benefits, there are also a number of challenges and trade-offs associated with their production and long-term use at larger scale. Brazil and the United States are among the leading producers of ethanol. The energy that is obtained from biofuels is known as bioenergy. On the other hand, burning garbage produces air pollution and releases the chemicals and substances in the waste into the air. 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. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Associate Professor of Engineering Systems and Atmospheric Chemistry, Engineering Systems Division and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Alexander, C. et al. Biofuels Disadvantages There are some complicating aspects about disadvantages of biofuels that we should look at. 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]. Farmers of corn, cotton, and soybeans, all possible sources of biofuel, are increasingly planting genetically modified types of those plants. All rights reserved. "Oil Yields and Characteristics." 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. After all, a better harvest would reduce prices and ensure there's enough corn or soybeans on hand to feed and fuel the world, right? When the plant biomass is burned, it releases this absorbed carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. 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. 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. Water Usage 7. (Nov. 15, 2010)http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_06/b4020093.htm, Golden Fuel Systems. Moreover, the crops that are grown to produce biomass absorb carbon dioxide which helps clean the air. Thanks for reading Scientific American. Renewability Is an Advantage It takes a very long time for fossil fuels to be produced. Anything that is local comes with an extra benefit. Deforestation. This factor could potentially limit the scale of biofuel production when it comes to upscaling their use. DISADVANTAGES OF BIOETHANOL 1. The liquid biofuel in greatest production is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which is made by fermenting starch or sugar. About 3.5 million tons of garbage is discarded in landfills every day. And high-consumption production practices -- moving palm oil with petroleum-powered trucks and the practice of draining and burning peat bogs to prepare farmland -- have made the southeast Asian nation one of the world's leading greenhouse gas emitters [source: Rosenthal]. Disadvantages of Biofuels Production of biofuels can be quite inefficient Large amounts of raw materials have to be used Significant greenhouse gas emissions in the production chain Use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides High initial investments required Increase in global food prices Global hunger and starvation High water demand A prime example of this occurred in the early 2000s. Biofuels may emit lower carbon footprints but the process involved in the production of these fuels largely depends on oil and water. 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. Traditional waste tire management strategies Advantages Disadvantages; Recycling and reclamation: Reduces global warming and helps preserve . While local crops have reduced the countrys dependence on fossil fuels, some experts believe it will take a long time to solve the energy needs. But there is another problem that appears with this selection. 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. Omissions? Biofuels - Some crops, like corn and sugar cane, can be converted into a biofuel called ethanol. Unfortunately, in some cases, it is more advantageous for farmers to decide in favor of biofuel crops over food crops, as they sell at higher prices and some monocrops may be easier to cultivate and harvest than diverse food crops. The rise in demand for food-biofuel crops can have a positive effect for crop producers, in the form of higher prices for their produce. Pure ethanol is difficult to vaporize meaning starting a car in cold weather could be more difficult that a car that runs on petrol. Biofuels are less suitable for application in low temperatures. 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. 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. However, most of these crops are also accepted as food products. Given all the negative effects, ethanol which is derived from crops does not make economical sense as a mainstream biofuel. One alternative involves the use of highly diverse mixtures of species, with the North American tallgrass prairie as a specific example. The Pros of Biofuels And once the chemicals are in the water supply, bad things can happen. There are a few potential negative effects of biofuels on the environment and economy that need to be considered when forming an opinion about their use in the future. For example, if crops grown for biofuels are planted on land that could be used for growing food crops. Careful fertilizer application can help prevent widespread pollution problems, but expanding biofuel production to meet the world's demand opens the door for more mistakes in this realm. . While both of these additives cause rapid and pleasing growth in many crops, they have drawbacks. 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]. Biofuels are renewable. And trash-based biofuels need not compete on cost with fuels, as long as they offer a lower cost than their other competitorlandfills. Add other resource costs into the equation, such as the gallons of fresh water needed to grow the plants and the amount of fertilizer needed to keep them healthy, and it becomes even harder to equate biofuel with real energy and carbon emission savings. Disadvantages of Biofuels 1. Syngas is a mix of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other hydrocarbons, which is produced by partial combustion of biomass. Quick Navigation for Advantages and disadvantages of biofuels, [1] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK196452/. But the fertilizers can have detrimental effects on the environment, and expanded biofuel production could pose a major threat due to freshwater pollution. And alcohol fuels (including ethanol) can corrode or damage some of the metal and rubber fittings used in gasoline-powered engines. In addition, energy crops grown for biofuel can compete for the worlds natural habitats. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Matt Cunningham Many biofuel crops are applied to produce biodiesel. The molecular bonds in oils low in saturated fats, which stay liquid at lower temperatures, vary from those high in saturated fats, which often form solids in average temperature ranges. A 2009 study suggests that, in the rush to produce enough corn-based ethanol to meet federal alternative energy requirements, biofuel demand is already putting stress on fresh water supplies in the Great Plains and central Southwest [source: McKenna]. The growth of all of these plants is better when fertilized. Biofuels, on the other hand, are produced from biological materials, which are generally considered to be cleaner-burning than fossil fuels. It generates harmful emissions 2. In many cases, biofuels can be produced from locally available resources. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. The most common types of liquid biofuels are bioethanol and biodiesel. However, it is important to carefully evaluate the environmental impacts of biofuels in order to ensure that they are being used in the most sustainable and responsible way possible. Just consider: biodiesel is a biodegradable fuel that releases less emissions when burned. In fact, the 468 million metric tons of trash produced in North America each year could provide 47 billion liters of ethanolor roughly the same amount as produced from corn, which presently supplies 10 percent of U.S. gasoline demand. It isn't as effective a fuel as traditional gasoline. It may produce 100 gallons of the fuel out of one season's crop. Examples include ancient people burning wood and branches to generate fire. You can substitute it for corn ethanol if produced at a lower cost. The simple economic system of supply and demand of biofuels increases the demand for corn, for example, and it becomes more expensive. Temperate zone plant biomass per hectare could be as high as 20 t. Switchgrass have reported yields up to 30 t ha 1. Given that the conversion rate is lower than with first-generation biofuels, cellulosic ethanol is dominantly used as a gasoline additive. Biological source of energy can be produced in many cases from locally available resources, which in turn decreases our reliance on imported fossil fuels that are even becoming rarer. In this article, we will describe the points related to this issue. This means that more biofuel is required to produce the same amount of energy as a smaller amount of fossil fuel. "E85 Vs Conventional Gasoline - Tech Knowledge." 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. But there are also disadvantages. We are a couple of environmentalists who seek inspiration for life in simple values based on our love for nature. Ask any grade-school student what a plant needs to grow, and he or she will likely mention two things: https://science.howstuffworks.com/sun.htm. Biofuels emit less of these "greenhouse gases" and so presumably contribute less to global warming. Performance & security by Cloudflare. They are perennial. Had it been the season's popular strain of corn, there could have been an ecological disaster as monarchs migrated through the corn-heavy American Midwest [source: Mellon and Rissler]. It leads to biodiversity do to the fact that a large amount of arable land is required to grow these crops and could see some natural habitats destroyed including rainforests 2. Biofuels are obtained from crops and plants that contain large amounts of sugar. The production of biofuels can in some cases compete with food production in several ways. One of the main advantages of biofuels is their relatively low cost. There will come a time when they will . Adjunct Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota. The production of biofuels can be more expensive than the production of fossil fuels due to the costs of growing and processing the feedstocks. In evaluating the economic benefits of biofuels, the energy required to produce them has to be taken into account. (Dec. 11, 2010)http://www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/growing-zone-information/growingzoneinfo.html, Carey, John et al. Additionally, the cost of biofuels is affected by government policies and subsidies. 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 one relates to the little multicolored maps on the backs of seed packets. But genetically modified crops have accidentally created unwanted and sometimes threatening traits like what happened during primary tests of a modified strain of corn. 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]. Advantages of Biofuels Biofuels costs have been declining and are likely to be far cheaper than petrol and other fossil fuels. Not every country has vast crude oil resources. 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. Biofuels also supply environmental benefits but, depending on how they are manufactured, can also have serious environmental drawbacks. One potential challenge to the reliability of biofuels is their limited availability, as they are only produced from certain feedstocks (as mentioned in the disadvantages section). In diverting arable land and feedstock from the human food chain, biofuel production can affect the economics of food price and availability. Loss of natural habitat can change the hydrology, increase erosion, and generally reduce biodiversity of wildlife areas. Second, the oil these plants produce is not equal. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Linquipis a Professional Network for Equipment manufacturers, industrial customers, and service providers, Copyright 2022 Linquip Company. 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 production cost per liter of ethanol is still high compared . Compared to fossil fuels, biofuels are considered to be a more environmentally friendly and sustainable energy source due to their renewability and lower emissions of greenhouse gases during burning. 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 . The cost of biofuel production can vary depending on the type of biofuel, the location, and the specific technologies used. Compatibility refers to the ability of a fuel to be used in existing infrastructure and equipment without modification or damage. Also, It increases microbial growth in the engine, making the engine filters clogged. Bioenergy is less expensive. 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. Their main perk is that they are produced from organic materials which replenish seasonally. It also prevents crop rotation and in turn prevents the soil from recovery from nutritional depletion. The pure form of ethanol (E100) can be used as a fuel for vehicles, but it is usually applied as an additive to gasoline to increase octane and enhance vehicle emissions. Biogas reduces Soil and water pollution. Biofuel Biomass is the only renewable energy source that can be converted into liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Furthermore, the burning of coal and oil raises the temperature and warms the planet. Some of the disadvantages of biofuels apply mainly to low-diversity biofuel sourcescorn, soybeans, sugarcane, oil palmswhich are traditional agricultural crops. High Cost of Production Though there are many reasons to want to use biofuels, they do have a very high cost of production and are too expensive to produce, especially considering current market conditions. Concerns have arisen mainly due to the lack of cover left to protect the resulting fallow fields from erosion from wind and rain. Read more about us. This may sound contradictory to the advantages of biofuels mentioned earlier in this article. 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. All of these plants grow better when given fertilizer. Biofuel can be produced from plants or commercial, agricultural, domestic, or industrial wastes with a biological origin.
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