Additionally, biofuel production can also lead to changes in land use patterns, as farmers may shift from growing food crops to biofuel crops in order to take advantage of government incentives or higher prices for biofuel crops. The proper way to grow biofuels to serve all needs simultaneously will continue to be a matter of much experimentation and debate, but the fast growth in biofuel production will likely continue. Although the creation of biofuels produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct, it is often used to grow the plants that are converted into fuel. 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. However, fuel ethanol contains denaturants to make fuel ethanol undrinkable. Biodiesel is not much better. Biofuels are an energy source obtained from organic material (animal waste, plants, etc. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.importtuner.com/tech/impp_0904_e85_vs_conventional_gasoline/index.html, United States Department of Agriculture. First, there's the issue of yield. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops/, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. Disadvantages of Biomass Energy This is an ethanol refinery. 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. This makes it something close to a self-sustaining system. When fossil fuels burn, they produce large amounts of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide. The use of biofuels improves energy security of individual countries by diversifying the energy mix and reducing reliance of countries on a single energy source. But there are also disadvantages. On the other end, if previously untouched natural ecosystem is transformed into a monoculture field than there is a high chance that pesticide pollution will appear and will affect the surrounding environment. In a possible moderate ethanol production scenario that includes trash collection and cellulosic ethanol production, sugarcane has the potential to provide sufficient ethanol to meet 14% of Australia's . There are several different types of biofuels: liquid biofuels such as bioethanol and biodiesel; solid biofuels like wood pellets, fuelwood, or animals waste; and biogas like landfill gas. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. For example, if crops grown for biofuels are planted on land that could be used for growing food crops. 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. Additionally, the cost of biofuels is affected by government policies and subsidies. These differences in state at a given temperature come from the oils' molecular makeup. The reliability of biofuels as an energy source depends on a variety of factors, such as the feedstocks used, the production methods employed, and the end-use of the biofuels. The biofuels advantages and disadvantages depend entirely on their nature and how they are accessed. 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]. This lack of compatibility is one of the reasons that biofuels have not been widely adopted as a replacement for fossil fuels. The legislation also requires, with certain stipulations, that 79 billion litres (21 billion gallons) of the total amount be biofuels other than corn-derived ethanol, and it continued certain government subsidies and tax incentives for biofuel production. Although current gas reservoirs will remain available for many years, they will deplete in anot-too-distant future. Biofuels have emerged as an alternative to fossil fuels in recent years due to their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote the use of renewable energy. Biofuel uses waste natural materials, and produces fewer emissions as a result. This is a great news for sustainable future planning since the use of biofuels is in agreement with the development of a circular economy by closing the loop on resource use. Associate Professor of Engineering Systems and Atmospheric Chemistry, Engineering Systems Division and Department of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The development of a biofuels industry has great potential to stimulate economic development in rural areas with less job possibilities by creating new markets for crops and other agricultural products. 6. Biofuel production utilizing food crops such as corn can drastically change the worlds access to cheap food. Alexander, C. et al. What is Distributed Generation? This is a problem biofuel crops share with food crops, gardens and lawns worldwide. But biofuels aren't completely cost-free. What are the economic drawbacks of using biofuels. Also, alcohol fuels (including ethanol) may corrode or damage some of the metal and rubber fittings utilized in gasoline-based engines. This lessens the risk of respiratory illnesses due to reduced air pollution. Bioethanol is a type of alcohol produced by fermentation, often from carbohydrates made in sugar or starchy crops like corn, sugarcane, or sweet sorghum. However, ease of access to food imports and the export depends on a wide variety of political and social factors. Its also worth noting that the cost of fossil fuels fluctuates greatly depending on the market and political situation. (Dec. 11, 2010)http://www.burpee.com/gardening/content/gygg/growing-zone-information/growingzoneinfo.html, Carey, John et al. 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. That directly translates into more expensive bacon and ham at the grocery store [source: Carey]. If farmers are incentivized to plant crops that are not well suited for the location, they may end up needing more water than any other crops would. 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. Some of these chemicals, which are mostly related to the combustion of non-biomass materials in garbage, can be hazardous to people and the environment if they are not properly controlled. Biofuels are made from various sources, including manure, crop waste, algae, other byproducts, and plants grown specifically for fuel. In Brazil, ethanol biofuel is made primarily from sugarcane, and it is commonly used as a 100-percent-ethanol fuel or in gasoline blends containing 85 percent ethanol. Such biofuels could be burned directly to generate electricity or converted to liquid fuels as technologies develop. "Biofuel" is a major buzzword in transportation circles these days, and for good reason. It may cause food scarcity because of the lucrative prices of bioethanol some farmers may sacrifice food crops for Biofuel production 3. As the name suggests, biofuels are derived from plant and their products. Water Usage 7. 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. Greentumble is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Biofuels can be extracted from the waste of those crops as well. Land Use Modifications 9. Also, these crops can be planted again. The water demands of some biofuel crops can put unsustainable pressure on local water resources if not handled carefully. List of Disadvantages of Algae Biofuel. Bloomberg Businessweek. Concerns have arisen mainly due to the lack of cover left to protect the resulting fallow fields from erosion from wind and rain. While both of these additives cause rapid and pleasing growth in many crops, they have drawbacks. The burning of fossil fuels generates a variety of air pollutants, including carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. "Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S." July 1, 2010. 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]. Compared with making ethanol from crops, the environmental benefits of making it from waste are clear: It diminishes the demand for landfills and cuts greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, it makes sense to look for an unsaturated oil as a biofuel source. 167.99.130.146 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. Let's start with one of the main arguments against the use of biofuels. Nevertheless, in 2012 Edmonton will host a chemical plant owned by Enerkem that will turn garbage into 36 million liters of ethanol and methanol per year. . Except providing new livelihood opportunities for local families, they could also represent a sustainable and innovative option that will contribute to rural development. In theory, this seems to be a great way to keep up with the demand for biofuel crops. Additionally, the grass mix actually helps to offset carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Biofuels have some advantages over their counterparts. 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). #1 Land use changes and land grabbing 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. An unfortunate disadvantage of biogas today is that the systems used in the production of biogas are not efficient. Biomass energy comes from organic materials, such as plants, so that is why it receives classification as a renewable source of energy. One of the key challenges in making the use of biofuels more sustainable over the long term is ensuring that they are sourced from feedstocks that have a low carbon footprint and are not in competition with food production. At the moment, biofuels are not compatible with all types of vehicles and equipment. University of California, Berkeley. 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. Let us now have a look at the disadvantages also. Partial combustion is a fuel-burning with insufficient oxygen to convert the biomass entirely to carbon dioxide and water. China's Xi Outshines Trump as the World's Future Energy Leader, Fact or Fiction? "Nature has not given us that selectivity to shift syngas to ethanol," notes chemical engineer Chornet, who started Enerkem in 2000 to make fuel from forestry residues, inspired by his father on Spain's island of Majorca, who made electricity by burning wood waste from his sawmill in the 1930s. This can limit the scale of biofuel production and make it more vulnerable to disruptions such as droughts, pests, and price fluctuations. With international trends swinging toward sustainable transportation, fuels such as corn-based ethanol and biodiesel from soy, switchgrass and palm oil seem like a good step toward cleaner, greener highways. Higher the diversity of plants, better natural resistance to diseases and pests. It generates harmful emissions 2. "Food vs. What does it mean? Biofuels burn clean, emit significantly fewer greenhouse gases, and are entirely biodegradable. 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 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]. Another type of biofuel is biodiesel. Adverse consequences can occur when chemicals are in the water supply. and B.P. Furthermore, biofuels can also be more expensive to produce than fossil fuels, which can make them less competitive in the market and discourage investment in the biofuel industry. But there's another complication that arises with this selection. 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. They are cleaner fuels, meaning that they produce fewer emissions during burning. Despite the development of various technologies for converting waste tires into biofuels, there is a need for more cost-effective and efficient methods that can be scaled up for commercial production. To begin a detailed discussion of this subject, the following are some of the recognised benefits and drawbacks of biofuels. Biofuels are compatible with current engine designs and work very well in most conditions. With the growth of the biofuel industry, more jobs will be created, which will help keep the economy secure. 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. As an alternative to landfills, incineration offers the following advantages: #1 Far more efficient use of space. What are the economic advantages of using biofuels? In general, biofuels are more expensive to produce than fossil fuels on a per-unit energy basis. Lower carbon emissions make them a safer alternative to preserve atmospheric quality and lower air pollution. One alternative involves the use of highly diverse mixtures of species, with the North American tallgrass prairie as a specific example. It isn't as effective a fuel as traditional gasoline. Monoculture refers to the practice of growing one heavily concentrated crop, rather than the rotation of various crops through a farmer's fields over time. In the United States the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 mandated the use of 136 billion litres (36 billion gallons) of biofuels annually by 2022, more than a sixfold increase over 2006 production levels. Researchers are exploring techniques to genetically engineer less thirsty crops. Uses land that could be used to grow food. and environmental chaos ensued. For example, the density of corn-based ethanol is higher than gasoline; fuel injectors must be larger in an ethanol-only engine to suit the fuel flow of a comparable gasoline engine. 1. . This factor could potentially limit the scale of biofuel production when it comes to upscaling their use. Biofuels, and the process of integrating them into our fuel use habits, can be costly. 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]. 10 Disadvantages of Biofuels By: Matt Cunningham Biofuels, made from crops such as corn, can have negative economic and environmental effects, as well as positive ones. Advantages and disadvantages of renewable energy. University of Minnesota. The cost of biofuel production can vary depending on the type of biofuel, the location, and the specific technologies used. For the billions of people living on only a few dollars per day, even a slight increase in food prices could jeopardize their access to proper nutrition. Its use also leads to a significant reduction of particulate matter emissions, the term used to explain solid particles and liquid droplets in the air. The process creates a synthetic gas (syngas), which can then be used for a wide variety of applications. 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]. "The business of ethanol is a very substantial market opportunity," Chornet says. The transition to biofuels will affect especially economic sectors of agriculture, manufacture, reprocessing, recycling, and transportation. As an alternative source of energy obtained from renewable and biological material, these fuels can be produced using waste materials. Biofuels are often produced from crops such as corn, sugarcane, and palm oil, which can be grown on a large scale. While both of these additives promote rapid and hearty growth in many crops, they have a downside. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Compatibility refers to the ability of a fuel to be used in existing infrastructure and equipment without modification or damage. Biofuel does produce lower carbon emissions but their production does depend on water and oil. Utilization of Fertilizers 4. As of now, the cost of biofuels in the market is the same as gasoline. Similarly, BlueFire Ethanol turns waste into ethanol by using sulfuric acid to release the cellulose in the trash and then adds enzymes and microbes to ferment it into fuel. Additionally, the amount of water used in biofuel production is also affected by the specific farming practices used. . This means they require more space to store the same amount of energy than fossil fuels. 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. The development of a biofuels industry can have both positive and negative economic impacts, depending on the specific circumstances. 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. This removes the need for application of chemicals and the risk of runoff and water contamination is simply lower. Additionally, they have a higher viscosity than fossil fuels, which can eventually lead to clogging or damage of fuel filters, injectors, and pumps. One obvious consideration is the gel, or clouding, point: A fuel that turns solid well above water's freezing point would not be very useful in a cold location. Companies such as Ineos Bio are turning trash into other chemicals such as plastics. References: Ann, Ngee. There is also no need to convert the engine. Lets have a look at the main advantages of biofuels over fossil fuels: Biofuels replenish over time, whereas fossil fuels are non-renewable and will eventually run out. Such a material is said to be carbon neutral. In practice, however, the industrial production of agricultural biofuels can result in additional emissions of greenhouse gases that may offset the benefits of using a renewable fuel. Corrections? Biofuels are derived from the decomposition of biological or organic waste. Updates? Industrial Pollution 6. "10 Disadvantages of Biofuels" Biofuels are also used with success for heating buildings. Industry researchers had found an answer in palm oil, a relatively easy-to-produce biofuel source. . 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). September 2007. The use of biofuels can help to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to a more sustainable energy system. Environment. One way to deal with this lies in simple diplomacy: The globalization of world commerce means that today it is easier than ever to transfer food supplies from one point of the world to another in response to increased need. The problem is even worse for pure vegetable oil, used as fuel in so-called "greasecars." There is a variety of applications, including electricity generation, and heating. Though ethanol and other biofuels are often promoted as clean, low-cost alternatives to gasoline, industrial corn and soy farming still have a harmful impact on the environment, just in a. The second most common liquid biofuel is biodiesel, which is made primarily from oily plants (such as the soybean or oil palm) and to a lesser extent from other oily sources (such as waste cooking fat from restaurant deep-frying). April 14, 2009. 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. It increases costs as well as the emissions produced in production and transport. This allows the engine to run for longer periods with less maintenance and reduces overall pollution check costs. "Ethanol Production Using Corn, Switchgrass, and Wood; Biodiesel Production Using Soybean and Sunflower." The advantages and disadvantages of HYV seeds are shown in the table below: Biofuels Biofuels are any kind of fuel manufactured from living things or from waste. Certain crops will grow better in certain regions and may not grow at all in others. To meet the increasing demand for biofuels, farmers may convert natural habitats, such as forests and grasslands, into croplands. Biodiesel is less efficient than gasoline Biomass: Should we focus on more eco-friendly renewable energy? 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. Biodiesel is a renewable and clean-burning fuel that is made from waste vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant grease for use in diesel vehicles. In recent years, biofuel development and use has risen significantly. Pure ethanol and biodiesel are nontoxic and biodegradable, and if spilled, they break down into harmless substances. And. Biofuels can require significant amounts of water for irrigation and processing, which can lead to water depletion and competition with other water uses, including even water for households, or for food production. Biofuels emit less of these "greenhouse gases" and so presumably contribute less to global warming. Can Renewable Energies Solve the Grave Problem of Climate Change? Exorbitant Production Costs 2. (Nov. 16, 2010)http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/31/business/worldbusiness/31biofuel.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1290625375-G4EOxMpw99oBdvPcW6DvCw, Tsuneishi, Scott. (Dec. 13, 2010)http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~agroeco3/modern_agriculture.html, Burpee. The widespread use of biofuels in daily operations requires different storage and handling equipment, engine modifications, and adapted fuel delivery systems. The plant will turn 300 metric tons of raw fluff per day into 36 million liters of ethanol per year. Algae has the same concerns of monoculture that the agriculture industry experiences. When they are used as fuel, they leave gummy residue in the engine. The quantity of vegetable oil available in an acre of crops can range greatly, from 18 gallons for corn to 635 gallons per acre for oil palm. A Lack of Food 5. Here at Linquip you can send inquiries to all Renewable Energy suppliers and receive quotations for free, Your email address will not be published. An important consideration is the gel point; a fuel that becomes solid above the freezing point of water is not very useful in a cold location. It has the same advantages as for AD (items 3 to 6 inclusive) over spreading untreated organic waste material on land. It may produce 100 gallons of the fuel out of one season's crop. But while different crops can be converted to biodiesel through the same process, the resulting fuel can be very different in its ability to produce energy. A number of existing power facilities burn grass, wood, or other kinds of biomass. 6 May 2015. Biofuel Biomass is the only renewable energy source that can be converted into liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. Biomass production uses a lot of water 5. 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.