But factor in a number of other complicating aspects, and biofuel often carries a heavy price. Land Use Modifications 9. Biodiesel, as the most common biofuel in Europe, is generated from oils or fats using transesterification. Brazil and the United States are among the leading producers of ethanol. One of the main advantages of biofuels is their relatively low cost. Plant-based fuel can be produced almost anywhere, comes from a renewable resource and often produces cleaner emissions than petroleum-based fuel. "Bioethanol." : Advantages & Disadvantages of. The production and use of biofuels generates significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than the production and use of highly polluting fossil fuels. ), which scientists call biomass. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Most of the waste generated worldwide is biodegradable. Loss of natural habitat can change the hydrology, increase erosion, and generally reduce biodiversity of wildlife areas. As the name suggests, biofuels are derived from plant and their products. Can Renewable Energies Solve the Grave Problem of Climate Change? There is also no need to convert the engine. For example, Range Fuels in Georgia similarly attempted to gasify waste from the pulp and paper industry and transform it into ethanol directly but foundered in perfecting its catalysts. Adverse consequences can occur when chemicals are in the water supply. The burning of biofuels generates fewer air pollutants than the burning of fossil fuels, which can improve air quality and public health. Concerns have arisen mainly due to the lack of cover left to protect the resulting fallow fields from erosion from wind and rain. Many of the studies show that the machinery used to cultivate crops emits large quantities of carbon emissions. If more people turn to biofuels, a country can diminish its dependence on fossil fuels. Given the expense of converting this mix of dirt and heavy oils to more usable petroleum products, the province is not keen on alternative fuels. Long-time monoculture farms have to use much more artificial fertilizer than their more sustainable peers, increasing water pollution. Perhaps the most straightforward of biofuel's drawbacks is the most obvious: It isn't petroleum-based fuel, so it will operate differently in engines designed for petroleum-based fuel. However, fuel ethanol contains denaturants to make fuel ethanol undrinkable. This makes it something close to a self-sustaining system. Biofuels are compatible with current engine designs and work very well in most conditions. Disadvantages of Biofuels One disadvantage of biofuels is that not all biofuels can be created equally. Biofuel crops are no different from petunias or peppers in this regard. The amount of vegetable oil available in an acre of crops can vary widely, from 18 gallons per acre for corn to 635 gallons for oil palm [source: Journey to Forever]. The development of new biofuels technologies can support innovation and drive economic growth in a sustainable way. As an alternative to landfills, incineration offers the following advantages: #1 Far more efficient use of space. Disadvantages of Biofuels 1. The greenhouse emission potential of biofuel varies considerably, from levels comparable to fossil fuels in some situations to negative emissions in others. In the long term, this may lead to a decrease in food availability, nutritional quality of available foods, diversity of food crops, and possibly endanger food security. They emit less carbon dioxide and other emissions when burned than standard diesel. Lets start with one of the main arguments against the use of biofuels. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. Syngas is a mix of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and other hydrocarbons, which is produced by partial combustion of biomass. Biofuel does produce lower carbon emissions but their production does depend on water and oil. When the plant biomass is burned, it releases this absorbed carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. Lower carbon emissions make them a safer alternative to preserve atmospheric quality and lower air pollution. Biofuels are often not compatible with traditional fossil fuel infrastructure because they have different chemical and physical properties. April 2009. The widespread use of biofuels in daily operations requires different storage and handling equipment, engine modifications, and adapted fuel delivery systems. This is a serious contra argument to consider especially with climate change already shifting our ability to grow crops in certain areas. Advantages of incineration. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are non-renewable, which means they are finite and will eventually run out. Biofuels refer to fuels made from plant materials. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a2e12d729352bd1 In general, biofuels can be a reliable energy source if they are produced and used in a responsible and sustainable manner. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. When biofuels are burned, they produce significantly less carbon output and fewer toxins than carbon fuels. 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? Biofuels burn clean, emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases, and are entirely biodegradable. Biomass and biofuels have been used to generate energy since ancient times. : Premium Gasoline Delivers Premium Benefits to Your Car. So, extensive production of biofuel is a negative-sum game. Also, these crops can be planted again. biofuel, any fuel that is derived from biomassthat is, plant or algae material or animal waste. . The second generation biofuels are produced from lignocellulosic, woody biomass, or agricultural waste. 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. "It is logistically available and it is low in value, if not negative in value." (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.goldenfuelsystems.com/index.php, Journey to Forever. References: Ann, Ngee. July 30, 2000. "10 Disadvantages of Biofuels" Disadvantages of Biofuels 1. The pure form (B100) can be employed as a fuel for vehicles but is commonly used as a diesel additive to reduce particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons in diesel vehicles. Easy Guide to Cooling Tower Efficiency & How To Increase it, Parts of Boiler and Their Function in the Boilers, Types of Alternator: Features, Advantages, and Vast Usage, Ball Valve Parts: An Easy-to-Understand Guide (2022 Updated). Furthermore, the burning of coal and oil raises the temperature and warms the planet. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. (Dec. 11, 2010)http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg2923.html, Rosenthal, Elisabeth. There is a huge potential for bioenergy obtained from waste to decrease the speed of global warming. and B.P. Many biofuel crops are applied to produce biodiesel. When done right and well-regulated, the production of biofuels has potential to actually support local biodiversity by promoting the growth of crops that are providing support to soils and leave soils less prone to erosion. Numerous unsaturated oils have undesirable burn properties. The ragged stripes stretching from east to west are growing zones: regions where water supply, temperature and sunlight make hospitable climates for certain types of plants. In theory, this seems to be a great way to keep up with the demand for biofuel crops. Algae can be formed in ponds or tanks on land or out at sea. Researchers are investigating ways to genetically engineer less thirsty crops, and carefully planning what biofuel crops to plant in a given region can mitigate this problem [source: Lau]. The problem is worse for pure vegetable oil as a fuel in so-called grease cars. What is Distributed Generation? The burning of fossil fuels generates a variety of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. Jan. 31, 2007. A number of factors play into any fuel's cost, both in economic and environmental terms, and biofuel doesn't always come out as the most sustainable option. Studies show that the machinery needed to cultivate the crops emits large carbon emissions. Hydrogenating, or treating the oil with hydrogen, can mitigate this problem, but increased processing means increased cost [source: Journey to Forever]. Exorbitant Production Costs 2. But large-scale biofuel production, especially corn products and in arid regions of the world, has to share limited water resources with drinking and irrigation needs. New York City spends roughly $400 million each year to transport 14 million tons of waste to incinerators and landfills. This difference affects the viability of the oil as fuel. Disadvantages of Biofuels Despite the benefits, there are some disadvantages of biofuels that make the general population hesitant to use them. Biofuels, on the other hand, are produced from biological materials, which are generally considered to be cleaner-burning than fossil fuels. The conversion from one fuel to the other, in some cases, requires a range of new injectors, gaskets and fuel lines. 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. The development of a biofuels industry can have both positive and negative economic impacts, depending on the specific circumstances. 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. Likewise, the nutrients that are put back into the soil through crop rotation and allowing fields to lay fallow disappear under intense monocultural farming. Aug. 11, 2006. 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]. Under this vision, biofuel crops would remove carbon dioxide from the air as they grow, and energy facilities would capture the carbon dioxide given off as biofuels are burned to generate power. 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]. 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. Biofuels are an energy source obtained from organic material (animal waste, plants, etc. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Such biofuels could be burned directly to generate electricity or converted to liquid fuels as technologies develop. The oil in their seeds is pressed out, filtered and converted to fuel using a chemical process. These differences in state at a given temperature come from the oils' molecular makeup. 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. You can substitute it for corn ethanol if produced at a lower cost. On the other hand, because many biofuel feedstocks require land, water, and other resources, research suggests that biofuel production may give rise to several undesirable effects. IATA believes that by 2020 we could see 3%-4% of fuel comprised of second generation biofuels, which is made from biomass, agricultural residues or waste, rather than from the oil crops used for first generation biofuels. But it is even more economical solution in terms of paying a cost set by international political agreements. About 3.5 million tons of garbage is discarded in landfills every day. (Clear Guide) + PDF, How Does A Hydrogen Fuel Cell Work? 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. Disadvantages No fuel is perfect, and there are some biofuel disadvantages - especially if plants are grown specifically. 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. 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. The amount of water used to grow biofuels varies depending on the type of biofuel, the location, and the farming practices used. Thankfully, it didn't sell well, so few fields were planted with it. First, a brief introduction to biofuels is essential. The Indonesian palm oil problem is really a combination of biofuel's drawbacks. See Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, Find out More about Renewable Energy Device & Equipment in Linquip, See List of all Renewable Energy Manufacturing Companies in Linquip. It generates harmful emissions 2. "Growing Zone Information." Nitrogen added to drinking water can cause health problems, like methemoglobinemia, a disease that prevents infants from using the oxygen in their blood. 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. The first generation biofuels are produced from food crops grown on arable land. Biodiesel doesn't fare much better. Biofuels have some advantages over their counterparts. Some studies are underway to increase the yields of biofuel from weather-tolerant crops. So, it could be a threat to food security or access to adequate nutritious food for the population. Even solar energy, the long-touted saviour of the ever expanding human appetite for energy is decades away from being feasible on a large scale and without the impact that comes from manipulating toxic chemicals into PV panels. Engines designed to operate on biofuels produce lower emissions than other diesel engines. The main disadvantage to using corn crops for biofuel production is the effect it would have on food crops and prices around the world. . Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like When considering large scale hydropower the disadvantage causing the LEAST environmental impact would be Decreased of flow of silt and sand to natural downstream deposits Disruption of the life cycle of anadromous and endemic fish Flooding of upstream habitat Change of job sources in the area, When a mineral resource is too deep . To learn more about biofuels, click to the next page. Its also worth noting that the cost of fossil fuels fluctuates greatly depending on the market and political situation. Not Rotating the Crop 3. 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% . Biofuel Biomass is the only renewable energy source that can be converted into liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. 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. 100% Biodiesel is actually just as biodegradable as sugar and ten times less toxic when compared with table salt. PhotoAlto/James Hardy/Getty Images "Biofuel" is a major buzzword in transportation circles these days, and for good reason. As the demand for biofuels increases, it is also possible that they will become cheaper in the future. Monoculture isn't a problem confined to biofuel production; it's an issue that had been studied for years in relation to large-scale food crop production. This fuel is made from the decomposition of organic matter. This way biofuels also decrease our dependence on foreign oil, which helps to reduce our trade deficit and improve energy security on a country level. As a result, looking for unsaturated oil as a biofuel source is reasonable. Our goal is to inspire people to change their attitudes and behaviors toward a more sustainable life. This means that more biofuel is required to produce the same amount of energy as a smaller amount of fossil fuel. But in other regions, the same plants would be impossible -- or extremely costly -- to grow. Pure ethanol is difficult to vaporize meaning starting a car in cold weather could be more difficult that a car that runs on petrol. That's why Waste Management, Inc., has invested in a slew of such waste-to-energy companies, including Enerkem. 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. (Jan. 14, 2011)http://www.springerlink.com/content/r1552355771656v0/, Rosen, C.J. It takes up to 1.4 gallons of ethanol to replicate the mileage that 1 gallon of gasoline can provide. 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 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]. 2023 Scientific American, a Division of Springer Nature America, Inc. The character of biofuels when they are only produced from certain feedstocks, such as specific crops, like rapeseed, or certain waste materials, means that they may be in limited supply. To begin a detailed discussion of this subject, the following are some of the recognised benefits and drawbacks of biofuels. 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]. The energy that is obtained from biofuels is known as bioenergy. But those fertilizers can have harmful effects on the surrounding environment, and expanded biofuel production could mean a major pollution threat to sources of fresh water. Biofuel can generate electricity and can be created from various waste products collected from the farming industry.