Katelyn Lutes
November 12, 2010
Biofuels are at the root of an evolutionary technology combining environmental consciousness and energy sources to benefit the planet. It is currently on the rise globally, and has the potential to change energy production in the future. The article titled "Biofuel-Renewable Energy or Another Environmental Disaster", posted on Environmental Support expresses some supposed issues regarding biofuel and obtaining biomass. Particularily strong claims are made regarding biofuels threatening biodiversity, and the increase of food prices because of crop-burning in biofuel. Very little factual evidence is provided within the article, and with further scrutiny, biofuel seems to be the clear choice for future energy production.
The article argues that by using crops in the production of biofuel, distant countries feel the effects of higher food prices. Biofuel is a highly developed technology, which currently uses an expansive variety of vegetation to produce the two most common types of biofuel; biodiesel and ethanol. For instance, in Canada, one of the main types of crop is corn. Thus, the majority of the biofuel that we produce is from corn. Similarily, in the United States, corn and soybeans are mainly used. In Germany, rapeseed is the main source, while Brazil uses sugar cane, and Indonesia and Malaysia use palm oil (Bionomicfuel, 2010). The substances used in the production of biofuel are directly linked to the local vegetation of that region or country. This can improve the economical market of that country that generates the crop, an aspect of thinking globally and acting locally. Since the vegetation is local, traditional processes can be used to generate the crop, minimizing the effects of losing nutrients in the soil that large extractions cause.
Many countries that criticize biofuel use and production are developing nations entangled in poverty. In these countries, hunger and malnutrition are often very evident. They claim that the use of crops and plant life to make fuel contributes to food deprivation and is therefore unnecessarily selfish. However, biofuel is composed of biomass; a blend of animal waste and other organic material. It does not need to rely solely on crops that are used for food. Photosynthetic organisms like fungi and algae are also feasable organisms used to manufacture biofuel (Goel, Undated). In many cases, malnutrition and hunger in countries is not because of lack of crops, but rather the lack of distribution of food and resources. As mentioned earlier, the biofuel industry can be vital to the success or growth of a countries economy, and can be beneficial.
The article also suggests that the production of biofuel threatens biodiversity in terms of removing biomass concentrations from the ground, and depriving soil of nutrients. The removal process of biomass in many cases, involves harvesting the desired crop or collecting the animal waste. Techniques of removing fossil fuels that are used to produce fuel vary depending on the physical state that it is in. For instance, oil is removed with a large oil rig, which pumps the liquid out of the ground with a vacuum-like pressure system. Coal is mined through large underground systems. These systems have far more severe environmental complications than the techniques of attaining biofuel products. Coal mining creates complications of water table contamination, soil erosion, dust, and habitat loss of native species of plant and animal life. Abandoned mines also displace the ecosystem and have critical long term effects. Although oil rigs are typically designed as environmentally efficiently as possible, the impacts of oil spills with oil transportation have been seen globally. Oil spills contaminate water and land, and can cause the endangerment of species. Futhermore, as fossil fuels are non-renewable resources that are being pushed into non-exsistance by humanity, new, effective and cleaner forms of energy are becoming the best alternative. Biofuel is at the head of this category. In comparison to oil, natural gas and coal, biofuel is obviously the most environmentally friendly option.
Emissions from vehicles using typical gasoline (made from fossil fuels) contributes to global warming and climate change through the widespread idea of the greenhouse effect. This concept describes the effect that occurs when too many chemical components enter the atmosphere. These gases, when present in sufficient amounts, prevent light rays from leaving the biosphere, and instead reflect them back to the earth. This causes the same ray to 'bounce' back and forth, the planet absorbing more and more heat each time. The constant absorption of heat theoretically results in the global temperature rising. Within the article, the author argues that the nitrous oxcide that is being emitted from the burning of biofuels is as harmful as other emissions that come from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide and methane gas. The amount of nitrous oxide that is released by burning biomass to create biofuel does not compare to the amount of carbon dioxide and methane gas that the burning of fossil fuels creates. Currently, carbon dioxide has contributed 87% to global warming (Sharma, 2008). In comparison to harmful gases released by fossil fuel burning, biofuel is a much cleaner product to use.
In many of the arguments presented throughout the article, biofuel appears to be the more economically and environmentally feasible option. Renewable resource technology is a better long term approach for energy production, instead of exploiting non-renewable options.
Resources
Environmental Support. "Biofuel-Renewable Energy or Another Environmental Disaster". 2008. [http://www.environment-support.org/renewable/editorials/biofuel-renewable-energy.html]
Bionomicfuel. "Biomass Fuel and Biodiesel Production in Different Countries". 2010.
Sharma, Partha Das. "Global Warming, greenhouse gases and their harmful effects-urgent reduction of these are essential to save our environment." 2008.
[http://saferenvironment.wordpress.com/2008/10/31/global-warming-greenhouse-gases-and-their-harmful-effects-%E2%80%93-urgent-reduction-of-these-are-essential-to-save-our-environment/]
Goel, Mike. "What is Biofuel Made of?". Undated. [http://www.ehow.com/about_5068788_biofuel-made.html]
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