The transition to biofuels from petroleum-based fuels, sustained by a small, dedicated following, is emerging due to increasing economic and environmental concerns. Companies such as Propel Biofuels are facing increasing resistance, yet they remain optimistic of an economic environment in favor of ‘green’ alternatives. In my lifetime, I hope to see many problems solved by intuitiveness. Biodiesel is a step, not a solution, in the right direction. In terms of engineering, the greatest environmental impact is to have none.
Competition against well established and funded companies such as Big Oil is a major barrier for the pre-mature biodiesel industry. However, time appears to be its largest ally. The lipids in biodiesel, such as animal fat or vegetable oil, are renewable energy sources. Though petroleum is naturally occurring, its non-renewable status means that its reserves are only going in one direction.
The secondary problem associated with this is the public’s willingness to adapt. Historically and fundamentally, large changes within society take much time, effort, and money. Without local government assistance, regardless of location, establishing a market would prove highly difficult. In the United States, the cost of biodiesel is slightly higher than petroleum-based fuels. Many people would be slow to adapt to an alternative that cost them more, even if it proved to be environmentally beneficial in the longer run.
Even as a small following, I believe a merger is realistic in the future. Though currently clouded by tedious paper processes, strict competition, and funding assistance, biodiesel has the environment on its side.
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Last edited: August 23, 2009
One argument I've heard made against biofuel is that it takes up the valuable resources needed to feed the world's population: the material from which biodiesel is made--crops such as corn, soybeans, and wheat--are diverted from providing food to powering people's car engines. As a result, food staples such as corn, soybeans, and wheat become more expensive because there's a more limited supply. Consequently, the poor in Third World developing countries are the ones who suffer because they can't afford such price increases.
ReplyDeleteOr is the issue more complex than just "good for poor people versus good for the environment"? Any thoughts?
Dr. Tiff
Dr. Tiff
That's exactly the stand I took on my essay about biofuels (I'm in CHEM 1310 too). Biofuels, in their current production state, will do more harm than good if expanded. We need to find better ways to produce raw material for biofuel before making the shift.
ReplyDeleteI actually responded earlier but it didn't show for some reason. You make a good point, and I agree. Though I did not encounter an argument regarding food being diverted from certain populations, it makes sense. I see bio fuels as a step in the right direction, not a solution. I did read several arguments against the practices of creating bio fuels: that the increased emissions and methods would cancel out, or become possibly greater, than the reduced emissions from the use of the new fuel itself. But despite the advantages, the disadvantages do need to be addressed before it can gain ground as a viable alternative in the market.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you, Dr. Tiff. The version of biofuels that is being promoted currently is not effective at all for solving our current energy problem. However, I did research on this a few years back, and came across two solutions that would be very effective--first of all, someone created a process called the Thermal Depolymerization Process which breaks down any substance that has carbon in it.
ReplyDeletehttp://discovermagazine.com/2006/apr/anything-oil
This takes resources that would be otherwise unusable and creates valuable resources from them--including oil.
The other method I found was creating Ethanol from Switchgrass--in 2006, they hadn't figured out exactly the best way to process it, but it would produce much more ethanol than alternatives such as corn, with a yield of 500-1000 gallons per acre.
A third alternative is using waste vegetable oil for running diesel engines--I was in the process of converting my old diesel Volkswagen with my dad before the engine died mysteriously.
Anyway--some food for thought.