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INTRODUCTION

Biofuel (also called agrofuel) can be broadly defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel
consisting of, or derived from biomass. The definition used here is narrower: biofuel is
defined as liquid or gas transportation fuel derived from biomass. Biomass can also be
used directly for heating or power: this is commonly called biomass fuel: see biomass
heating systems. Biofuel is considered a means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
and increasing energy security by providing an alternative to fossil fuels.

Biofuels are used globally: biofuel industries are expanding in Europe, Asia and the
Americas . The most common use for biofuels is in automotive transport (for example
E10 fuel). Biofuel can be produced from any carbon source that can be replenished
rapidly e.g. plants. Many different plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel
manufacture.

Biofuel is a product produced from biomass. As the biofuel definition above suggests,
this fuel is considered much cleaner than petrol/diesel alternatives.

Biofuel is considered carbon neutral, as the biomass absorbs roughly the same amount
of carbon dioxide during growth, as when burnt.

Biofuel isn't as innocent as it seems, as in many cases, large areas of forest are cut
down to make space for the plantation of biofuel suitable crops. This deforestation not
only harms the carbon cycle, but also harms surrounding civilizations/tribes who live off
the forest.

Many environmentalist argue that biofuel is a disaster in the making, and doesn't offer a
significant long-term environmental impact.

Some biofuels currently in use are:

• Biobutanol
• Biodiesel
• Bioethanol
• Biogas
• Vegetable Oil

The use of biofuels can help to reduce the costs associated with the purchasing of
mainstream fuels such as petrol and diesel.

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It could be argued that biofuel is a product of solar energy, as the sun is needed to grow
the biomass crops, which can then be manufactured into usable fuel.

Biofuel sounds like a modern day invention, however, we have used this type of fuel
since the discovery of fire. Firewood can be classed as a biofuel, as wood is a biomass
product, which can be burnt to released energy in the form of heat.

The types of biofuels mentioned above (Biodiesel, Biogas etc.) relate to the modern day
uses of biomass as a fuel energy source.

To provide biofuel for every car, truck, bus, plane, boat, and factory across the globe
would require a colossal amount of space to be used for the plantation of renewable
biomass crops. This would result in the deforestation as a direct result of biomass
plantation becoming out of hand.

We need to be looking into alternative methods for powering vehicles and machinery to
reduce the future impacts that biofuel usage may pose on the environment. Electric cars
powered from the electricity generated by renewable energy sources would be the best
option, however, implementing this on a global scale will be a very challenging task.

Where are biofuels used?

Biodiesel can, in theory, be used in all diesel engines. However, due to the parts
attached to the diesel engine, some manufacturers do not approve engines running on
100% biodiesel.

Volkswagen, SEAT, Audi and Skoda all approved their cars built from 1996-2004
running on 100% RME biodiesel - that is biodiesel made from rapeseed - on the
condition that it meets specification EN14214.

Generally speaking, it is recommended that you use a combination of biodiesel blended


with regular diesel. Indeed at the majority of petrol stations, a 5% biodiesel mix is used.
It is also worth bearing in mind that biodiesel made from waste cooking oil can freeze in
the winter - and so no more than a 50% blend is recommended.

Between 2000 and 2005 ethanol production doubled, and biodiesel production
quadrupled, so biofuels are clearly on the rise. The British Government's Renewable
Transport Fuel Obligation currently requires 2.5% of fuels sold at the pump to be
biofuels. This will increase to 5% by 2010, while the EU has a target of 5.75% of all
transport fuels to be from biological sources, also by 2010.

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What are the different types of biofuel?

There are many different biofuels available in the UK . One of the most common
worldwide is E10 fuel, which is actually a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% petroleum.
This formula has been improved in recent years with the introduction of E15 fuel (15%
ethanol, 85% petroleum); E20 fuel (20% ethanol, 80% petroleum); E85 fuel (85%
ethanol, 15% petroleum); E95 fuel (95% ethanol, 15% petroleum) and E100 fuel which
is ethanol with up to 4% water.

In Europe , biodiesel is the most popular form of biofuel - it can be used in any diesel
engine when mixed with mineral diesel. This is produced from oils and fats and is now
readily available at many petrol stations.

There are many other types of biofuel available including vegetable oil, which is used in
many older diesel engines; butanol, which is seen as a replacement for petroleum; and
biogas which is produced from biodegradable waste materials.
This technology has been expanded with the introduction of 'second generation' biofuels
- which use biomass to liquid technology. Examples include biohydrogen, biomethanol
and mixed alcohols.

Third generation biofuels are also known as algae fuels. They have many advantages
including have a low input and a high yield level – they produce 30 times more energy
per acre than land – and are also biodegradable. As a result, they are relatively
harmless to the environment if spilled.

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HISTORY

Humans have used biomass fuels for heating and cooking since the discovery of fire.
Following the discovery of electricity, it became possible to use biofuels to generate
electrical power as well. However, the discovery and use of fossil fuels: coal, gas and
oil, have dramatically reduced the amount of biomass fuel used in the developed world
for transport, heat and power.

Liquid biofuels have been used since the early days of the car industry. run on ethanol.
Rudolf Diesel, the German inventor of the Diesel engine, designed it to run on peanut
oil. Henry Ford originally designed the Ford Model T, a car produced from 1903 to 1926,
to run completely on ethanol. However, when crude oil became cheaply available
(thanks to oil reserves discovered in Pennsylvania and Texas ), cars began using fuels
derived from mineral oil: petroleum or diesel.
In the United States , all cars manufactured since 1988 are required to be compatible
with fuels containing at least 20% ethanol E20 fuel, and with minor modifications these
cars can use 85% ethanol blended with petroleum E85 fuel. Since around 2000
renewed interest in biofuels has been seen. The drivers for biofuel use and
development include rising oil prices, concerns over the potential oil peak, greenhouse
gas emissions (global warming), rural development interests, and instability in the
Middle East . The US president George W. Bush said in his 2006 State of the Union
speech that the US should replace 75% of imported oil with biofuel by 2025.

The U.S. Dept. of Energy has earmarked $375 million to fund bioenergy research
centers. Second generation biofuel production processes are in development (see
below). These allow biofuel to be derived from any source of biomass, not just from food
crops such as corn and soy beans. Nevertheless, before World War II, biofuels were
seen as providing an alternative to imported oil. Germany powered its vehicles using a
blend of gasoline with alcohol fermented from potatoes, called Reichskraftsprit. In
Britain , grain alcohol was blended with petrol by the Distillers Company Limited under
the name Discol and marketed through Esso's affiliate Cleveland . After the war, cheap
Middle Eastern oil lessened interest in biofuels. But the oil shocks of 1973 and 1979
increased interest from governments and academics.

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BIOMASS

Biomass is material derived from recently living organisms. This includes plants,
animals and their by-products. For example, manure, garden waste and crop residues
are all sources of biomass. It is a renewable energy source based on the carbon cycle,
unlike other natural resources such as petroleum, coal, and nuclear fuels. Agricultural
products specifically grown for biofuel production include corn and soybeans, primarily
in the United States; rapeseed, wheat and sugar beet primarily in Europe; sugar cane in
Brazil; palm oil in South-East Asia; and Jatropha in India. Biodegradable outputs from
industry, agriculture, forestry and households can be used for biofuel production, either
using anaerobic digestion to produce biogas, or using second generation biofuel
processes; examples include straw, timber, manure, rice husks, sewage, and food
waste. The use of biomass fuels can therefore contribute to waste management as well
as fuel security and help to prevent climate change, though alone they are not a
comprehensive solution to these problems. Sugarcane can be used as a biofuel or food.

Animal waste is a persistent and unavoidable pollutant produced primarily by the


animals housed in industrial sized farms. Researchers from Washington University have
figured out a way to turn manure into biomass. In April 2008 with the help of imaging
technology they noticed that vigorous mixing helps microorganisms turn farm waste into
alternative energy, providing farmers with a simple way to treat their waste and convert
it into energy.

There are also agricultural products specifically grown for biofuel production including
corn, switchgrass, and soybeans, primarily in the United States; rapeseed, wheat and
sugar beet primarily in Europe; sugar cane in Brazil; palm oil and miscanthus in South-
East Asia; sorghum and cassava in China; and jatropha in India. Hemp has also been
proven to work as a biofuel. Biodegradable outputs from industry, agriculture, forestry
and households can be used for biofuel production, either using anaerobic digestion to
produce biogas, or using second generation biofuels; examples include straw, timber,
manure, rice husks, sewage, and food waste. Biomass can come from waste plant
material. The use of biomass fuels can therefore contribute to waste management as
well as fuel security and help to prevent global warming, though alone they are not a
comprehensive solution to these problems.

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ENERGY FROM BIOWASTE

Filtered waste vegetable oil.

Using waste biomass to produce energy can reduce the use of fossil fuels, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and reduce pollution and waste management problems. A
recent publication by the European Union highlighted the potential for waste-derived
bioenergy to contribute to the reduction of global warming. The report concluded that 19
million tons of oil equivalent is available from biomass by 2020, 46% from bio-wastes:
municipal solid waste (MSW), agricultural residues, farm waste and other biodegradable
waste streams.[7][8]
Landfill sites generate gases as the waste buried in them undergoes anaerobic
digestion. These gases are known collectively as landfill gas (LFG). This is considered a
source of renewable energy, even though landfill disposal is often non-sustainable.
Landfill gas can be burned either directly for heat or to generate electricity for public
consumption. Landfill gas contains approximately 50% methane, the gas found in
natural gas.
If landfill gas is not harvested, it escapes into the atmosphere: this is undesirable
because methane is a greenhouse gas with much more global warming potential than
carbon dioxide.[9][10] Over a time span of 100 years, one ton of methane produces the
same greenhouse gas (GHG) effect as 23 tons of CO2.[citation needed] When methane burns,
it produces carbon dioxide in the ratio 1:1 -- CH4 + 2O2 = CO2 + 2H2O. So, by harvesting
and burning landfill gas, its global warming potential is reduced a factor of 23, in
addition to providing energy for heat and power.

It was recently discovered that living plants also produce methane. The amount is 10 to
100 times greater than that produced by dead plants in an aerobic environment but does
not increase global warming because of the carbon cycle.
Anaerobic digestion can be used as a waste management strategy to reduce the
amount of waste sent to landfill and generate methane, or biogas. Any form of biomass
can be used in anaerobic digestion and will break down to produce methane, which can
be harvested and burned to generate heat, power or to power certain automotive
vehicles.

A current project for a 1.6 MW landfill power plant is projected to provide power for 880
homes.[12] It is estimated that this will eliminate 3,187 tons of methane and directly
eliminate 8.756 tons of carbon dioxide release per year. This is the same as removing
12,576 cars from the road, or planting 15,606 trees, or not using 359 rail cars of coal per
year.

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TYPES OF BIOFUELS

BIODIESEL

Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, and typically produces about 60% less net
lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions, as it is itself produced from atmospheric carbon
dioxide via photosynthesis in plants. However, the smog forming hydrocarbon
emissions are 35% greater, and the Nitrogen Oxide emissions are also greater, than
from petroleum-based diesel. Though this figure can actually differ widely between fuels
depending upon production and processing methods employed in their creation. Pure
biodiesel is available at many gas stations in Germany .
Some vehicle manufacturers are positive about the use of biodiesel, citing lower engine
wear as one of the fuel's benefits. Biodiesel is a better solvent than standard diesel, as it
'cleans' the engine, removing deposits in the fuel lines. However, this may cause
blockages in the fuel injectors if an engine has been previously run on petroleum diesel
for years. For this reason, car manufacturers recommend that the fuel filter be changed
a few months after switching to biodiesel (the fuel filter, as part of a routine maintenance
plan, is generally replaced anyway). Most manufacturers release lists of the cars that
will run on 100% biodiesel.

Biodiesel can also be used as a heating fuel in domestic and commercial boilers.
Existing oil boilers may contain rubber parts and may require conversion to run on
biodiesel, but the conversion process is usually relatively simple-- involving the
exchanging of rubber parts for synthetic ones due to biodiesel being a strong solvent.
One should not burn B100 in an existing home heater without breaking it in, as biodiesel
will dissolve coagulated heating oil, which can break off in chunks and cause problems.
It is suggested to start by using biodiesel as an additive, and then work your way up to
burning biodiesel/petrodiesel mixes of stronger amounts. However, thanks to its strong
solvent power, burning biodiesel will increase the efficiency of your home heater.

Biodiesel can be distributed using today's infrastructure, and its use and production
are increasing rapidly. Fuel stations are beginning to make biodiesel available to
consumers, and a growing number of transport fleets use it as an additive in their fuel.
Biodiesel is generally more expensive to purchase than petroleum diesel but this
differential may diminish due to economies of scale, the rising cost of petroleum and
government tax subsidies. In Germany , biodiesel is generally cheaper than normal
diesel at gas stations that sell both products.

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Description

Biodiesel is a liquid which varies in color — between golden and dark brown —
depending on the production feedstock. It is practically immiscible with water, has a high
boiling point and low vapor pressure. Typical methyl ester biodiesel has a flash point of
~ 150 °C (300 °F), making it rather non-flammable. Biodiesel has a density of ~ 0.88
g/cm³, less than that of water. Biodiesel uncontaminated with starting material can be
regarded as non-toxic.
Biodiesel has a viscosity similar to petrodiesel, the current industry term for diesel
produced from petroleum. It can be used as an additive in formulations of diesel to
increase the lubricity of pure Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, which is
advantageous because it has virtually no sulfur content. Much of the world uses a
system known as the "B" factor to state the amount of biodiesel in any fuel mix, in
contrast to the "BA" or "E" system used for ethanol mixes. For example, fuel containing
20% biodiesel is labeled B20. Pure biodiesel is referred to as B100.
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel that can be manufactured from algae, vegetable oils,
animal fats or recycled restaurant greases; it can be produced locally in most countries.
It is safe, biodegradable and reduces air pollutants, such as particulates, carbon
monoxide and hydrocarbons. Blends of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent petroleum
diesel (B20) can generally be used in unmodified diesel engines. Biodiesel can also be
used in its pure form (B100), but may require certain engine modifications to avoid
maintenance and performance problems. Biodiesel has about 5–8% less energy
density, but better lubricity and more complete combustion can make the energy output
of a diesel engine only 2% less per volume when compared to petrodiesel — or about
35 MJ/L.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Biodiesel

Advantages of Biodiesel
• It is a renewable bio-based fuel and, as such, has lower life cycle CO2 emissions
than diesel derived from mineral oils.
• Neat biodiesel contains almost no sulfur and no aromatics. In a properly tuned
engine this is expected to lead to lower particulate exhaust emissions.
• The material is bio-degradable and non-toxic.
• As an oxygenated compound, it reduces the non-soluble fraction of the particles.
• The PAH content of exhaust particles is reduced.
• In a mixture with low-sulfur diesel, biodiesel can act as a lubricity improver
• The absence of sulfur allows more efficient use of oxidation catalysts.

Disadvantages of Biodiesel

• Constraints on the availability of agricultural feedstock impose limits on the


possible contribution of biodiesels to transport.
• The kinematic viscosity is higher than diesel fuel. This affects fuel atomization
during injection and requires modified fuel injection systems.
• Due to the high oxygen content, it produces relatively high NOx levels during
combustion.

Oxidation stability is lower than that of diesel so that under extended storage conditions
it is possible to produce oxidation products that may be harmful to the vehicle
components.

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Environmental benefits

Environmental benefits in comparison to petroleum based fuels include:

Biodiesel reduces emissions of carbon monoxide (CO) by approximately 50% and


carbon dioxide by 78% on a net lifecycle basis because the carbon in biodiesel
emissions is recycled from carbon that was in the atmosphere, rather than the carbon
introduced from petroleum that was sequestered in the earth's crust. (Sheehan, 1998)

Biodiesel contains fewer aromatic hydrocarbons: benzofluoranthene: 56% reduction;


Benzopyrenes: 71% reduction.

Biodiesel can reduce by as much as 20% the direct (tailpipe) emission of particulates,
small particles of solid combustion products, on vehicles with particulate filters,
compared with low-sulfur (<50 ppm) diesel. Particulate emissions as the result of
production are reduced by around 50%, compared with fossil-sourced diesel. (Beer et
al, 2004).

Biodiesel produces between 10% and 25% more nitrogen oxide NOx tailpipe-emissions
than petrodiesel. As biodiesel has a low sulphur content, NOx emissions can be
reduced through the use of catalytic converters to less than the NOx emissions from
conventional diesel engines. Nonetheless, the NOx tailpipe emissions of biodiesel after
the use of a catalytic converter will remain greater than the equivalent emissions from
petrodiesel. As biodiesel contains no nitrogen, the increase in NOx emissions may be
due to the higher cetane rating of biodiesel and higher oxygen content, which allows it
to convert nitrogen from the atmosphere into NOx more rapidly. Debate continues over
NOx emissions. In February 2006 a Navy biodiesel expert claimed NOx emissions in
practice were actually lower than baseline. Further research is needed.

Biodiesel has higher cetane rating than petrodiesel, which can improve performance
and clean up emissions compared to crude petrodiesel (with cetane lower than 40).

Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic - the U.S. Department of Energy confirms that
biodiesel is less toxic than table salt and biodegrades as quickly as sugar. (See
Biodiesel handling and use guidelines)

In the United States, biodiesel is the only alternative fuel to have successfully completed
the Health Effects Testing requirements (Tier I and Tier II) of the Clean Air Act (1990).

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BIOETHANOL

Ethanol is the most common biofuel worldwide. It is an alcohol fuel. It is produced by


fermentation of sugars derived from wheat, corn, sugar beet and sugar cane. The
production methods used are enzymatic digestion (to release sugars from stored
starches e.g. from wheat and corn), fermentation of the sugars, distillation and drying.
Ethanol can be used in petrol engines as a replacement for gasoline; it can be mixed
with gasoline to any percentage, see common ethanol fuel mixtures for information on
ethanol. All petrol engines can run on blends of up to 15% bioethanol with
petroleum/gasoline. For higher percentage blends, engine modifications are needed.
Many car manufacturers are now producing flex-fuel vehicles, which can run on any
combination of bioethanol and petrol, up to 100% bioethanol.

Ethanol fuel is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic
beverages. It can be used as a fuel, mainly as a biofuel alternative to gasoline, and is
widely used in cars in Brazil. Because it is easy to manufacture and process, and can
be made from very common materials, such as corn, it is steadily becoming a promising
alternative to gasoline throughout much of the world.

Anhydrous ethanol (ethanol with less than 1% water) can be blended with gasoline in
varying quantities up to pure ethanol (E100), and most spark-ignited gasoline style
engines will operate well with mixtures of 10% ethanol (E10).

Most cars on the road today in the U.S. can run on blends of up to 10% ethanol, and
the use of 10% ethanol gasoline is mandated in some cities where harmful levels of
auto emissions are possible.

Ethanol can be mass-produced by fermentation of sugar or by hydration of ethylene


from petroleum and other sources. Current interest in ethanol mainly lies in bio-ethanol,
produced from the starch or sugar in a wide variety of crops, but there has been
considerable debate about how useful bio-ethanol will be in replacing fossil fuels in
vehicles. Concerns relate to the large amount of arable land required for crops, as well
as the energy and pollution balance of the whole cycle of ethanol production. Recent
developments with cellulosic ethanol production and commercialization may allay some
of these concerns.
According to the International Energy Agency, cellulosic ethanol could allow ethanol
fuels to play a much bigger role in the future than previously thought.
Cellulosic ethanol can be made from plant matter composed primarily of inedible
cellulose fibers that form the stems and branches of most plants. Dedicated energy
crops, such as switchgrass, are also promising cellulose sources that can be produced
in many regions of the United States .
Bio-ethanol is obtained from the conversion of carbon based feedstock. Agricultural
feedstocks are considered renewable because they get energy from the sun using
photosynthesis, provided that all minerals, required for growth (such as nitrogen and

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phosphorus), are returned to the land. Ethanol can be produced from a variety of
feedstocks such as sugar cane, bagasse, miscanthus, sugar beet, sorghum, grain
sorghum, switchgrass, barley, hemp, kenaf, potatoes, sweet potatoes, cassava,
sunflower, fruit, molasses, corn, stover, grain, wheat, straw, cotton, other biomass, as
well as many types of cellulose waste and harvestings, whichever has the best well-to-
wheel assessment.

Advantages

The overwhelming advantage of bioethanol for the environment is its potential to be


carbon neutral on a lifecycle basis – meaning the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted during
its use is offset by the absorption from the atmosphere during its growth.

With emissions of CO2 and nitrous oxide taken into account, some studies suggest that
lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced by 90% with bioethanol compared
to petrol. This is a best-case scenario however, using sugar cane as the crop and large
amounts of bagasse (the remaining wood fibres after the juice is extracted) used for
heat energy. Nevertheless, even by current European standards the emission
reductions are significant – around 35-65% depending on the processing method.

Bioethanol also has the advantage of lower taxation. The UK government has reduced
fuel duty on bioethanol which offsets the higher production costs. The first supermarkets
in the UK selling E85 offered it at around 2p cheaper than conventional petrol but
typically you would use much more bioethanol per mile than traditional fuel – around
50% more if you’re using 100% bioethanol

Disadvantages

There are many concerns over the use of bioethanol as a long-term alternative in the
fuelling of cars. These include:

• Biodiversity – A large amount of arable land is required to grow crops. This could
see some natural habitats destroyed including rainforests.
• The food V fuel debate – There is concern that due to the lucrative prices of
bioethanol some farmers may sacrifice food crops for biofuel production which
will increase food prices around the world.
• Carbon emissions – There is debate over the neutrality of bioethanol when all
elements are taken into consideration including the cost of changing the land use
of an area, transportation and the burning of the crop.

There are also concerns over the fuel systems used. Too many older cars are
currently unequipped to handle even 10% ethanol while there is concern that
using 100% ethanol decreases fuel economy by around 15-30% compared with
100% petroleum.

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BIOGAS

Biogas typically refers to a (biofuel) gas produced by the anaerobic digestion or


fermentation of organic matter including manure, sewage sludge, municipal solid waste,
biodegradable waste or any other biodegradable feedstock, under anaerobic conditions.
Biogas is comprised primarily of methane and carbon dioxide.
Depending on where it is produced, biogas is also called:
• swamp gas
• marsh gas
• landfill gas
• digester gas
Biogas is produced by the process of anaerobic digestion of organic material by
anaerobes. It can be produced either from biodegradable waste materials or by the use
of Biogas containing methane is a valuable by-product of anaerobic digestion which can
be utilized in the production of renewable energy. Biogas can be used as a vehicle fuel
or for generating electricity. It can also be burned directly for cooking, heating, lighting,
process heat and absorption refrigeration.

Biogas composition
The composition of biogas varies depending upon the origin of the anaerobic digestion
process. Landfill gas typically has methane concentrations around 50%. Advanced
waste treatment technologies can produce biogas with 55-75%CH4.
Biogas contains methane and can be recovered from industrial anaerobic digesters and
mechanical biological treatment systems. Landfill gas is a less clean form of biogas
which is produced in landfills through naturally occurring anaerobic digestion. If it
escapes into the atmosphere it is a potent greenhouse gas.

Oils and gases can be produced from various biological wastes:

-Thermal depolymerization of waste can extract methane and other oils similar to
petroleum.

-GreenFuel Technologies Corporation developed a patented bioreactor system that


uses nontoxic photosynthetic algae to take in smokestacks flue gases and produce
biofuels such as biodiesel, biogas and a dry fuel comparable to coal.

Some applications for the biogas:


• Gas can be used for heating, lighting, and cooking
• Gas can be used to run internal combustion engines with modifications
• Effluent can be used for fertilizer.

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Advantages of biogas

• Simple to build and operate


• Virtually no maintenance--25-year digester lifespan
• Design can be enlarged for community needs
• Continuous feeding
• Provides a sanitary means for the treatment of organic wastes.

Disadvantages of Biogas-

1.The product (biogas) value is rather low; this makes it an unattractive commercial
activity.

2. The biogas yields are lower due to the dilute nature of substrates.

3. The process is not very attractive economically (as compared to other biofuels) on a
large industrial scale.

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Biofuels in developing countries

Biofuel industries are becoming established in many developing countries. Many


developing countries have extensive biomass resources that are becoming more
valuable as demand for biomass and biofuels increases. The approach to biofuel
development in different parts of the world varies. Countries such as India and China
are developing both bioethanol and biodiesel programs. India is extending plantations of
jatropha, an oil-producing tree that is used in biodiesel production. The Indian sugar
ethanol program sets a target of 5% bioethanol incorporation into transport fuel Ethanol
India website. China is a major bioethanol producer and aims to incorporate 15%
bioethanol into transport fuels by 2010.
Amongst rural populations in developing countries, biomass provides the majority of fuel
for heat and cooking. Wood, animal dung and crop residues are commonly burned.
Figures from the International Energy Agency show that biomass energy provides
around 30% of the total primary energy supply in developing countries; over 2 billion
people depend on biomass fuels as their primary energy source. World resources
institute document on wood fuels
The use of biomass fuels for cooking indoors is a source of health problems and
pollution. 1.3 million deaths were attributed to the use of biomass fuels with inadequate
ventilation by the International Energy Agency in its World Energy Outlook 2006.
Proposed solutions include improved stoves and alternative fuels. However, flues are
easily damaged, and alternative fuels tend to be expensive. People in developing
countries are unlikely to be able to afford to put these solutions in place. Organizations
such as Intermediate Technology Development Group work to make improved facilities
for biofuel use and better alternatives accessible to those who cannot get them.

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Current issues in biofuel production and use

Biofuels can provide benefits including: reduction of greenhouse gas emissions,


reduction of fossil fuel use, increased national energy security, increased rural
development and a sustainable fuel supply for the future.
However, biofuels have limitations. The feedstocks for biofuel production must be
replaced rapidly and biofuel production processes must be designed and implemented
so as to supply the maximum amount of fuel at the cheapest cost, while providing
maximum environmental benefits. Broadly speaking, first generation biofuel production
processes cannot supply us with more than a few percent of our energy requirements
sustainably. The reasons for this are described below. Second generation processes
can supply us with more biofuel, with better environmental gains. The major barrier to
the development of second generation biofuel processes is their capital cost:
establishing second generation biodiesel plants has been estimated at €500million.

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Advantages of Biofuels

The aim of all biofuels is to be carbon neutral. They reduce greenhouse gas emissions
when compared to conventional transport fuels.
In reality, biofuels are not carbon neutral simply because it requires energy to grow the
crops and convert them into fuel. The amount of fuel used during this production (to
power machinery, to transport crops, etc) does have a large impact on the overall
savings achieved by biofuels. However, biofuels still prove to be substantially more
environmentally friendly than their alternatives.
In fact, according to a technique called Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) first generation
biofuels can save up to 60% of carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels. Second
generation biofuels offer carbon emission savings up to 80%. This was backed by a
recent UK Government publication which stated biofuels can reduce emissions by 50-
60%.
Another advantage of biofuels is that they save drivers money. The UK Government in
particular has introduced many incentives to drivers of 'green cars' based on emissions
- with reduced taxation dependent on how environmentally friendly your vehicle is. With
petrol prices on the rise, replacing petroleum with a renewable energy source should
also offer significant savings at the pump in the long term, particularly when biofuels are
more readily available.
There are arguments too that biofuels are helping to tackle poverty around the world.
For example, the Overseas Development Institute has pointed to wider economic
growth and increased employment opportunities along with the positive effect on energy
prices, as reasons to back biofuel production. This is debated due to the pressures it
places on agricultural resources but biodiesel could be a long term solution as it uses
simpler technology and lower transportation costs alongside increased labour.

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Disadvantages of Biofuels

There are several concerns about biofuels - and particularly including.


· Biodiversity - A fear among environmentalists is that by adapting more land to
produce crops for biofuels, more habitats will be lost for animals and wild plants. It is
feared for example, that some Asian countries will sacrifice their rainforests to build
more oil plantations.

· The food V fuel debate - Another concern is that if biofuels become lucrative for
farmers, they may grow crops for biofuel production instead of food production. Less
food production will increase prices and cause a rise in inflation. It is hoped that this can
be countered by second generation biofuels which use waste biomass - though again,
this will impact the habitat of many organisms. The impact is particularly high in
developing countries and it is estimated that around 100million people are at risk due to
the food price increases.

· Carbon emissions – Most LCA investigations show that the burning of biofuels
substantially reduces greenhouse gas emissions when compared to petroleum and
diesel. However, in 2007 a study was published by scientists from Britain , the USA ,
Germany and Austria which reported the burning of rapeseed or corn can contribute as
much to nitrous oxide emissions than cooling through fossil fuel savings.

· Non-sustainable biofuel production – Many first generation biofuels are not


sustainable. It is necessary to create sustainable biofuel production that does not effect
food production, and that doesn’t cause environmental problems.

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FUTURE

In the space of 12 months, the biofuels industry has gone from climate saviour to environmental
scapegoat. But in the longer-term, it has a crucial – and sustainable – role to play.

Mentioning biofuels is, unfortunately, becoming a good way of raising the temperature of a
conversation. Strident headlines warning of disappearing rainforests and orang-utans,
impoverishment or famine certainly attract attention, but are not leading to a well-informed
debate. We need to stop lumping all biofuels together. There are some that are good, and some
that are not so good.

Looking towards a world in which climate change will make life more difficult for many, and
one in which it will be harder to find food and energy for a growing global population, biofuels
have a real contribution to make.

Produced responsibly they are a sustainable energy source that need not take any land needed for
food production; they need not cause environmental degradation; they can help solve the
problems of the waste generated by western society; and they can create jobs for poor people
where previously were none. Produced irresponsibly, they at best offer no climate benefit and, at
worst, have detrimental social and environmental consequences.

In other words, biofuels are pretty much like any other product. Present day biofuels (the so-
called first generation) largely come from food crops; I would agree with many of their critics
that they do not offer a long-term solution. But looking to the future, the next generation of
biofuels will.

Biofuels can all be used in two ways: either combusted, with their energy used directly (e.g. for
heat and/or to generate electricity); or they can be used to make liquid fuels for vehicles. But
what are biofuels? Directly or indirectly they come from plant material. Plants capture the energy
of the sun by photosynthesis and the carbon dioxide (CO2) that is released when they are burned
was extracted from the atmosphere as they grew. To that extent they are carbon neutral.

But account also has to be taken of any emissions that arise from their production, and the first
test of a biofuel is whether it contains significantly more energy than was used to produce it.
Unfortunately, perverse agricultural subsidies mean that not all fuels pass this test and thus offer
little or no climate benefit benefit.

There are two main paths to future biofuels. They can be produced either from specially grown
crops or from the by-products of other human activities. The latter involves using the organic
(i.e. plant-derived) component of what we have traditionally thrown away as ‘waste’ in urban
rubbish (cardboard, waste food, grass cuttings etc), agricultural by-products such as straw,
forestry trimmings and the like and, ultimately, sewage sludge. Some of these materials have
other uses (e.g. compost) and there has to be a local decision on how best to use the resource.

The fact remains that we throw a great deal away. On one estimate, the organic content of US
urban garbage contains enough energy to meet more than half the fuel needs of all the cars in the

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country. This does not mean that this would be either a wise or practicable course but it does
emphasize the size of the energy resource that we discard. All of these starting materials can be
treated with enzymes or gasified in a controlled environment to produce clean, synthetic vehicle
fuels. The technology to do this is available today, but there is much more development to be
done.

The same is true of the other path to future biofuel – breeding special crops. They are special in
the sense that they can grow on marginal land where food crops would struggle. One example is
jatropha, a wild tree that is widely distributed in tropical areas and carries a fruit that contains
three kernels that can be crushed to give a crude oil suitable for making biodiesel. The oil is not
edible and is used as a purgative in traditional medicine.

The plant can be cultivated and pruned to a manageable height for the fruit to be picked by hand.
This has the enormous additional advantage of creating jobs in areas where often there were
limited employment opportunities. Roughly 1.3 people are needed per hectare of planted jatropha
and D1 Oils – the company of which I am chairman – estimates that it has already created around
200,000 jobs worldwide. Far from bringing poverty, biofuels can offer people their first
opportunity of making a living. They could also make some developing tropical countries self-
sufficient in vehicle fuel.

One of the common arguments used against biofuels is that there is not enough agricultural land
available for them to make a real difference. This argument falls if the biofuel is derived from
crops grown on marginal land or from wastes. Nevertheless, even their most ardent advocates
don’t pretend that biofuels are a complete answer to the world’s energy problems either for
power or for vehicles. But we have to recognise that there is no one silver-bullet solution and,
faced with a remorseless rise in world energy demand and damaging rises in atmospheric CO2
levels, it makes sense to use everything we can, including biofuels.

Looking ahead, it is possible that biofuels may be superseded for heat and power generation by
other renewables and possibly by nuclear fusion. Bioliquids, however, seem likely to be needed
as long as we depend on the internal combustion engine.

The biofuels industry is a young one and its product is not yet price competitive with mineral
oils. For that reason, governments are providing fiscal and regulatory support. It is right and
proper that they do so in a way that discriminates against those that are produced unsustainably.
In the longer term, biofuels cannot rely on preferential treatment and must become the fuel of
choice not only in sustainability terms, but on cost as well. There is every prospect that they will.

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