Biofuels
Although land used for fuel production could reduce its
availability for food production, this is at present not a serious problem. In the longer-term, lignocellulosics are likely to become the primary source for biofuels. It is important in each particular case to evaluate the sustainability of raw material production to ensure that biofuels are developed in areas that do not affect the basic resources of agricultural ecosystems such as soil, water, air and biodiversity.
Right Energy in the Right Place Analysis of areas today used for conventional crop production
which are intended to be converted into biofuels producing areas is an important starting point for the evaluation. Generally speaking, in many countries, the land used today for agriculture and biofuels production accounts for a small share of total arable land. Large-scale production of biofuels could increase the price of agricultural commodities. This would benefit farmers, but might increase food prices. The growth in the use of biofuels would also result in the creation of new jobs in harvesting, processing, distribution, etc. A biofuels industry that is local and where farmers produce fuel for their own use would produce direct and multiple benefits to the rural community. More jobs and economic development for rural areas in both industrialised and developing countries is possible if governments put the appropriate policies in place and enforce them. The more involved farmers are in the production, processing, and use of biofuels, the more likely they are to benefit from them. A number of factors will influence the future of biofuels,
but developments in the global oil market will continue to be the most influential factor driving the industry. The projected growth would lead to a global increase in the arable land used for biofuels production from about 1% of total available land today to approximately 2.5% in 2030. Recent developments in biofuels
suggest that their rapid growth could continue for decades. The potential is particularly high in tropical countries, where high crop yields and lower costs for land and labour provide an economic advantage. It has been estimated that worldwide sugar cane production could be expanded so that crop alone could displace about 10% of gasoline use worldwide.
Biofuels & Food Prices Concerns about the increasing production of biofuels, possible competition with agricultural land, and their impact on the food prices require a holistic assessment. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) estimated
worldPower 2010
that in 2008 biofuels accounted for approximately 10% of the increase in food prices. In certain countries biofuels have had a more significant impact – mainly because of national agricultural support programmes and protectionist measures rather than increased production of biofuels. Poor management of the agricultural sector during previous decades, unfavourable weather conditions, lack of investment in production capacity and infrastructure, distorted agricultural markets, and the dismantling of support policies for domestic markets in developed countries might have all contributed to the recent increases in food prices the world over. The development of second-generation biofuels based on
conversion of cellulosic resources, such as grasses, sawdust and fast growing trees from non-food sources can assist in limiting the direct competition between food and biofuels that is associated with first-generation biofuels and should be a priority for their sustainability. Agricultural practices that are environmentally sustainable,
socially accepted and that promote the efficient use of energy should be supported. All possible energy crops in each region should be assessed, including the second generation biofuels crops, to promote sustainable production (i.e. non-conventional oil seed and lignocelluloses materials).
Algae Biodiesel While algae biodiesel has the same characteristics as
conventional fuel, the production process can also be used to capture CO2 from power stations and other industrial plants (synergy of coal and algae). Algae oil production is extremely efficient and does not
... developments in the global oil market will continue to be the most influential factor driving the industry
even require agricultural land as it can be grown in the open sea, open ponds or on industrial land in photobioreactors. Moreover, algae biodiesel production can be combined with wastewater treatment and nutrient recycling, where polluted water (cleaned by algae) acts as a nutrient in their growth. But most importantly is that algae biodiesel jet fuel represents the best potential answer for the sustainability of the aviation industry today.
Bioethanol Bioethanol is the most commonly used biofuel for spark
ignition (gasoline) engine applications due to similar auto- ignitability properties to those of gasoline fuel. Currently, 5% of gasoline fuels sold in the US have been blended with ethanol. In addition, unlike biodiesel, oxidative stability is not a major problem for bioethanol. Since most small engines are spark ignition, the future of bioethanol in small engine applications looks promising.
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