Biofuels As Alternative Sources Of Energy
29374
Reference & Education > Environmental
Jun 20, 2007
wpat007
Biofuels As Alternative Sources Of Energy
Biofuels are produced by converting organic matter into fuel for powering our society. These biofuels are an alternative energy source to the fossil fuels that we currently depend upon. The biofuels umbrella includes under it's aegis ethanol and derivatives of plants such as sugar cane, as well as vegetable and corn oils. However, not all ethanol products are designed to be used as a kind of gasoline. The International Energy Agency (IEA) tells us that ethanol could comprise up to 10 percent of the world's usable gasoline by 2025, and up to 30 percent by 2050. Today, the percentage figure is two percent. However, we have a long way to go to refine and make economic and practical these biofuels that we are researching. A study by Oregon State University proves this. We have yet to develop biofuels that are as energy efficient as gasoline made from petroleum. Energy efficiency is the measure of how much usable energy for our needed purposes is derived from a certain amount of input energy. (Nothing that mankind has ever used has derived more energy from output than from what the needed input was. What has always been important is the conversion the end-product energy is what is useful for our needs, while the input energy is just the effort it takes to produce the end-product.) The OSU study found corn-derived ethanol to be only 20% energy efficient (gasoline made from petroleum is 75% energy efficient). Biodiesel fuel was recorded at 69% energy efficiency. However, the study did turn up one positive: cellulose-derived ethanol was charted at 85% efficiency, which is even higher than that of the fantastically efficient nuclear energy. Recently, oil futures have been down on the New York Stock Exchange, as analysts from several different countries are predicting a surge in biofuel availability which would offset the value of oil, dropping crude oil prices on the international market to $40 per barrel or thereabouts. The Chicago Stock Exchange has a grain futures market which is starting to steal investment activity away from the oil futures in NY, as investors are definitely expecting better profitability to start coming from biofuels. Indeed, it is predicted by a consensus of analysts that biofuels shall be supplying seven percent of the entire world's transportation fuels by the year 2030. One certain energy markets analyst has said, growth in demand for diesel and gasoline may slow down dramatically, if the government subsidizes firms distributing biofuels and further pushes to promote the use of eco-friendly fuel. There are several nations which are seriously involved in the development of biofuels. There is Brazil, which happens to be the world's biggest producer of ethanols derived from sugars. It produces approximately three and a half billion gallons of ethanol per year. The United States, while being the world's greatest oil-guzzler, is already the second largest producer of biofuels behind Brazil. The European Union's biodiesel production capacity is now in excess of four million (British) tonnes. 80 percent of the EU's biodiesel fuels are derived from rapeseed oil; soybean oil and a marginal quantity of palm oil comprise the other 20 percent
Many alternative energy sources explained. Ocean thermal, wind power, photovoltaic, and wind power too. More information:Alternative Energy
send email to wpat007
Write a Review
Add to My Favorite
Refer it to Friend
Report Article
Other links owned by this user
Understanding the different types of horse racing is crucial to your betting success. Researching a horses background will help you pick the winning horse. Making sense of the numbers is very important.
Category:
Find the hotspots to fish in Southern California. What baits, lures, and water conditions you need to catch those fish.
Category:
This site covers all the bases of getting the correct dental help you might need. Braces, crowns, veneers and much more.
Category:
Viral products are great for generating traffic and awesome lead generators too.
Category:
All you need to know about worm farming and natural composting. The needed equipment and how to use it to become a successful worm farmer.
Category:
This web site covers many sources of no coal fuel that makes earth friendly energy . Wind power is one. The ocean is being utilized. Solar panels and even nuclear power have made giant steps in cleaning up the planet.
Category:
Tips and strategies are readily available at this site. Understanding the different types of horse racing. Pick the winning horse with the knowlege you receive.
Category:
Many hidden truths about hemochromatosis that your doctor doesn't even know. Life saving information is a must.
Category:
Understanding the different types of horse racing is crucialto your betting success. Researching a horses background will help you pick the winning horse. Making sense of the numbers is very important.
Category:
You can find many sources of no coal fuel that makes earth friendly energy . Wind power is one. The ocean is being utilized. Solar panels and even nuclear power have made giant steps in cleaning up the planet.
Category:
Tips and strategies. Understanding the different types of horse racing.You can pick the winning horse with the correct knowlege.
Category:
Helping stroke victims to lead a more productive life. In this unique and gentle approach to Stroke, learn everything there is to know about stroke.
Category:
Other links at Reference & Education > Environmental
Oil is made from crude oil, a valuable natural resource that is highly sought after. Oil is also a very serious pollutant so it is absolutely essential that any waste oil from the likes of car or boat engines or oil fired central heating systems for examp
Category:
The sun is a powerful star. It supplies us with energy, through a process called nuclear fusion, and sustains life on our planet Earth.
Category:
According to the shastras or revealed scriptures, human beings have nine mothers and the cow is considered to be one of them. She provides milk for everyone and above all she is very dear to Krishna.
Category:
People talk about the rainforest as an ecosystem, but most tend to think of the trees (and to some extent, plants) as merely a habitat for the animals that survive within its domain.
Category:
Where did the word sustainability originate from? It came from the field of forestry, where it meant that we should not harm or hack more trees than the number growing. It meant that the hacking rate should always be lower than the growing rate. Then in t
Category:
Site Sponsor
Directory Statistics
Articles: 68309
Categories: 501
Yahoo Entertainment
