the next generation fuel-biofuels
TRANSCRIPT
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Praxis Business School
The next generation fuel-Bio-fuels
A report submitted to
Prof. Prithwis Mukherjee
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of the course
Business Information Systems
By:
Ashwin Kumar Agarwal
Roll No:-B10004Batch No:-2010-2011
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CONTENTS
Introduction 3
How to make Bio-fuels 4
Different types of Bio-fuels 5
Need for Bio-fuels 9
Various generations of Bio-fuels 9
Bio-fuels globally 12
Key players of Bio-fuels 13
Various challenges 15
Solution for the challenges 16
Advantages of Bio-fuels 17
Potential of Bio-fuels 18
Various insights to Bio-fuels 19
References 20
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Abstract
The development of alternatives to fossil fuels as an energy source is an urgent global priority. One of
the ways to meet this urgency is bio-fuels. Bio-fuels are wide range of fuels which are derived from
biomass. Information across the biosphere, including potential energy crops and microorganisms able
to break down biomass, will be vital for improving the prospects of significant bio-fuel production. It is
commonly used as an alternative, cleaner fuel, renewable, environmentally friendly source of energy
and supports local agriculture. There is high potential of bio-fuel and this article discusses how bio-
fuels can meet the global demand.
INTRODUCTION
Bio-fuels are wide range of fuels which are in some way derived from biomass. It is basically the fuel
produced from renewable biomass material, commonly used as an alternative, cleaner fuel source.
The term covers
Solid Biomass,
Liquid Fuels, and
Various biogases
Bio-fuels are energy-affording materials that are sourced from organic, naturally found living or
recently living plants and organisms.
The oldest and most widely used bio-fuel is WOOD. From our early ancestors to modern day society,
humans have used the burning of wood (fire) to cook our food, provide us with warmth and as a
means of protection
More recently in human history, time, money and resources have been channelled into researching a
more powerful source of energy, namely BIO-FUELS. These can take form of
a solid (wood, charcoal or dry manure)
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liquid fuel or
natural gases,
All of which can in some way provide us with energy to fuel our society. Currently, Bio-fuels are used
predominantly in the transport sector as a fuel for cars, busses and trucks: however, further research
could see their field of application expand quite substantially.
How to make bio-fuel
Most of from of bio-fuel can be easily manufactured even at in ones kitchen garden. One of the key
features of bio-fuel is that they are better than other forms of fuel like petrol or diesel that is
manufactured by most of the big oil manufacturing companies.
There are various forms of bio-fuels and most of them are made through a detailed process having
various stages. Most of the animal fats, vegetables and oils contain glycerine and are thus called
triglycerides. In the process of manufacturing the bio-fuels, all the fats and oil are turned into esters,
separating the glycerine. At the end of the process, all the glycerine sinks down at the bottom and all
the bio-fuel rests at the top. The process through which the glycerine is separated from the bio-dieselis known as transesterification. This process also uses lye as a catalyst in the whole process. Some
of the chemicals which are used in the manufacturing of bio-fuels are ethanol or methanol which
brings into use methyl esters. Methanol is derived from fossils fuels while ethanol is derived from
plants. One of the advantages of using ethanol is that they can be distilled even at the home without
any problem.
The process of manufacturing bio-fuel can be classified in the following stages. These stages are:
Filtering: in this process, waste vegetable oil is filtered to remove all the food particles. This
process generally involves warming up the liquid a little. After warming up the liquid, it can be
filtered with the use of coffee filter.
Removing of water: All the water contained in the residual gangue has to be removed
which will make the reaction faster. The water can be easily removed by making the liquid
boil at 100 degree C for some time.
Titration:This process is carried out to determine the amount of lye that would be required.
This process is the most crucial and the most important stage of bio-fuel manufacturing.
Preparation of sodium methoxide: In this process, methanol is mixed with sodium
hydroxide to produce sodium methoxide. The most of the cases, the quantity of methanol
used is generally 20 percent of waste vegetable oil.
Heating and mixing:The residue is heated in between 120 to 130 F after which it is mixed
well. It should be remembered that processed should be done carefully avoiding splashing of
liquid.
Settling and separation: After mixing the liquid, it has to be allowed to cool down. After the
cooling process, the bio-full will be found floating at the top while the heavier glycerine would
be found at the bottom. The glycerine can be easily separated by allowing it to drain out from
the bottom. The person is left over with pure bio-fuel which can be used for various
purposes.
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Different types of Bio-fuels
There are different categories of bio-fuels depending on their chemical make-up or composition, but
what they all have in common is that they are completely organic in origin. Bio-fuels are categories as:
Bio-alcohols
o Bio-ethanol
Bio-diesel
Bio-oil Bio-gas
Syngas
Vegetable oil
Solid bio-fuels
The combinations of all of these different kinds of Bio-fuels provide the transport sector with
approximately 1.8% of its fuel needs in 2008.
Great investments of time, money and research has seen a rapid increase in the focus on using bio-
fuels to move our society forward as opposed to conventional non-renewable fossil fuels.
Now let us briefly know about each of the bio-fuels category
Bio-alcohols
Bio-alcohols refer to the fuels that are created from the fermentation of sugar and starch in certain
plant matter, which of course yields alcohol. One of the most commonly used and widely researched
of the Bio-alcohols, is bio-ethanol. The concept behind creating bio alcohols as a source of fuel is
really quite inseparable from the one we apply to making wine and brandy (grapes),vodka (potatoes),
gin (juniper berries) and whiskey (rye). Not all plant types will yield alcohol in a palatable form;
however, the engines of automobiles certainly dont mind this. All we know is that bio alcohol can be
used in its pure form to initiate and sustain more powerful and cleaner combustion, and in doing so,
have proved to be exceptionally useful in the transport sector.
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Biodiesel
Biodiesel is manufactured via the process of transesterification from oily or fatty substances, such as
vegetable oils derived from any one of a number of oily plant types (flaxseed, sunflower seeds, palm
oil, etc.), animal fats and used or recycled greases.
Biodiesel is one of the most common forms of bio fuel and is especially used throughout much of
Europe as an additive to traditional mineral diesel (usually constitutes 15% of total volume).
The benefit of using biodiesel is that it increases the power output octane of an engine through the
promotion of more efficient combustion, which in turn reduces the harmful emissions of poisonous
greenhouse gases (carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, pollution particulates, etc.). Biodiesel can be
used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form, but it is usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels
of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles.
Bio-oil
Bio-oil is completely organically sourced oil obtained from plants such as Jatropha, Canola flowers
and Algae. Used vegetable is also considered to be great source of bio-oil, since a huge number o
people, homes and catering business use cooking oil on a daily basis.
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Bio-oil is usually heated to reduce its viscosity, after which it can be used as an additive in diesel fuel.
Alternatively, it can be further treated to produce biodiesel, which can be used to power absolutely
any technology that subsists off of diesel fuel: cars, trucks, buses, power generators, etc.
Bio ethers
Ether is an organic chemical compound that can be used similarly to bio alcohol. The distinction is
that bio ethers contribute to incredibly efficient combustion within car engines resulting in:
Higher octane rating
Lesser toxic greenhouse gas and pollution emission
Lesser corrosion of car mechanics
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Biogas
Biogas is the natural by-product of decomposition by bacterial organisms and explains the unpleasant
odour of rotting flesh or plant material. Through specially designed collectors and closed system, we
can capture this gas, which is high in methane, off of landfills or waste deposit sites and use it for a
number of applications. The solid by-product of bacterial digestion can also be used as a potent
fertilizer, ideal for agricultural use.
Syngas
Syngas is essentially a mixture of carbon monoxide (a poisonous and potent greenhouse gas) and
hydrogen (a harmless and naturally found atmospheric gas). This is produced through the partial
combustion of biomass in an oxygen-starved environment that yields a more potent and efficient form
of fuel, which can be used to drive vehicle engines as well as the generation of electricity by turbines.
Vegetable oil
This kind of oil can be either used for cooking purpose or even as fuel. The main fact that determinesthe usage of this oil is the quality. The oil with good quality is generally used for cooking purpose. It
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can even used in most of the old diesel engines, but only in warm atmosphere. In most of the
countries, vegetable oil is mainly used for the production of biodiesel.
Solid bio-fuels
Solid bio-fuels such as wood, sawdust, grass cuttings, domestic refuse, charcoal, agricultural waste,
non-food energy crops and dried manure. When raw biomass is already in a suitable form (such as
firewood), it can burn directly in a stove or furnace to provide heat per raise steam. When raw
biomass is in an inconvenient form (such as sawdust, wood chips, grass, urban waste wood,
agricultural residues), the typical process is to density the biomass.
A derivative of solid bio fuel is bio char. Bio-char made from agricultural waste can substitute for wood
charcoal. As wood stock becomes scare this alternative is gaining ground.
All of the bio-fuels mentioned are the results of varying production processes which can be
categorised into three generations:
First generation bio-fuels
Second generation bio-fuels
Third generation bio-fuels
Forth generation bio-fuels
Need for Bio-fuels
The need for bio-fuels is becoming increasingly urgent due to the fact that:
The source we rely on for energy and powers are fast dwindling. Fossil fuels such as coal and
oil are non-renewable resources that have been at the reins of our economy for far too long.
With only a few countries in the world that actually possess fossil fuels as a natural resource,
wars and power struggles over these commodities have caused irreparable damage to
international government relations, the environment as well as to peoples lives
Bio-fuels constitute the answer to all the global energy and environmental crises we face
today by providing our civilization with energy security in the form of an alternative,
renewable, potent and readily available source of power.
Bio-fuels can be used to power small-scale farm and local workshop machinery and electricity
generators as well as vehicles.
Now let us know about the different generation in which Bio-fuel has been categorised:
First generation bio-fuels
First generation bio fuels are sourced from natural compounds such as sugars, starches, vegetable
oils and fats, which are then, processed using conventional technologies. As such, they encompass
the fuel types of:
Bio-diesel,
Bio-alcohols,
Syngas, and
Vegetable oil
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The basic feedstocks for the production of first generation bio-fuels are often seeds or grains such as
sunflower seeds, which are pressed to yield vegetable oil that can be used in bio-diesel, or wheat,
which yields starch that is fermented into bio-ethanol.
However, while these sources of bio fuels offer a great alternative to the traditional fossil fuels, they
do present some economical difficulties of their own:
One of the greatest controversies facing bio fuels is that they require the use of major food
crops in their production. So, with first generation bio fuels, we are either looking at putting
incredible stress on the agriculture sector, resulting in food shortages, or the expansion of
farmlands.
This in itself has huge environment implication such as deforestation, soil erosion, water
shortage, increased carbon emissions and on larger scale; climate change.
With all these detrimental impacts, the excessive use of the first generation bio-fuels really defeats the
purpose of bio-fuels in the first place, which is to provide a clean and renewable source of energy.
Second generation bio-fuelsSecond generation bio-fuels comprise the answer to the issues presented by their first generation
counterparts as they are manufactured from inedible plant matter or non-food crops as well as the
waste biomass produced by the agricultural sector. This includes the
Left over stalks,
Stems and leaves from the processing of corn,
Sugar cane,
Wheat,
Soybeans and
Other food crops.
Second generation bio-fuels largely surpass the limitation of the first generation due to following
reasons:
Because of the vast and diverse array of inedible biomass types and sources, they do not
threaten our food reserves, food production or biodiversity.
They are also a far more sustainable resource, environmentally friendly and completely cost-
effective because the fuel is made from what previously is thought of as useless waste
material.
Third generation bio-fuels
This generation of bio-fuels are provided by the green slime that coats our pools and ponds much to
our frustration. Algae also referred to as oilgae in the bio-fuel industry, is the third generation bio-fuel.
Research into the use of algae as a source of fuel has shown that it can produce as much as 30 times
more energy per unit growing area than land crops (corn, soybeans, wheat, etc.), although this is yet
to be commercially implemented. The advantage of third generation bio-fuels is that it is 100%
environmentally friendly, biodegradable and easy to grow, although the oil extraction process is a little
trickier.
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Algae also has the benefits of naturally producing ethanol as a by-product, which can easily beextracted without disturbing the plant, as well as absorbing carbon dioxide in the process of
photosynthesis. This sink of carbon dioxide is fundamental in an environment which suffering under
the strain of excessive greenhouse gas emissions.
Fourth generation bio fuels
A number of companies are pursuing advanced bio-chemical and thermo-chemical processes that
produce drop in fuels like green gasoline, green diesel, and green aviation fuel. While there is
no one established definition of fourth generation bio-fuels, some have referred it to as the bio-fuels
created from processes other than first generation ethanol and bio-diesel, second generation
cellulosic ethanol, and third generation algae bio-fuel. Some fourth generation technology pathways
include: pyrolysis, gasification, upgrading, solar-to-fuel, and genetic manipulation of organisms to
secrete hydrocarbons
Green fuels: if bio catalytic cracking and traditional fractional distillation used to process properly
prepared algal biomass i.e. bio crude, then as a result we receive the following distillates: jet fuel,
gasoline, diesel, etc.
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Bio fuels on a global basis
Recognising the importance of implementing bio-energy, there are international organizations such as
IEA bio energy, established in 1978 by the OECD International Energy Agency (IEA), with the aim of
improving co-operation and information exchange between countries that have national programmes
in bio energy research, development and deployment. The U.N International bio fuel forum is formedby Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the United States and the European commission. The world
leaders in bio fuel development and use are Brazil, United States, France, Sweden and Germany.
(Source: Wikipedia)
Bio fuel in India
Bio-fuel development in India centres mainly on the cultivation and processing of Jatropha plant
seeds which are very rich in oil (40%). The drivers for this are historic, functional, economic,
environmental, moral and political.
Jatropha oil has been used in India for several decades as biodiesel to height to the diesel
fuel requirements of remote rural and forest communities. Jatropha oil can be directly usedafter extraction (i.e. without refining) in diesel generators and engines
Jatropha has the potential to provide economic benefits at the local level since under suitable
management it has the potential to grow in dry marginal non-agricultural lands, thereby
allowing villagers and farmers to leverage non-farm land for income generation. It also
reduces nations fossil fuel import bill for diesel production
Since, no food producing farmland is required for producing this bio fuel (unlike corn or sugar
cane ethanol, or palm oil diesel), it is considered the most politically and morally acceptable
choice among Indias current bio-fuel option; it has no negative impact on the production of
the massive amounts grains and other vital agriculture goods India produces to meet the food
requirements of its massive population.
Indias total biodiesel requirement is projected to grow to 3.6 million metric tons in 2011-12, with the
positive performance of the domestic automobile industry. Analysis from Frost & Sullivan, strategic
analysis of the Indian bio fuels Industry, reveals that the market is an emerging one and has a long
way to go before it catches up with global competitors.
The government is currently implementing an ethanol-blending program and considering initiatives in
the form of mandates for biodiesel. Due to these strategies, the rising population, and the growing
energy demand from the transport sector, bio fuels can be assured of a significant market in India. On
12 September 2008, the Indian government announced its National Bio fuel Policy. It aims to meet
20% of Indias diesel demand with fuel derived from plants. That will mean setting aside 140,000
square kilometres of land. Presently fuel yielding plants cover less those 5,000 square kilometres.
Jatropha incentives in India are a part of Indias goal to achieve energy independence by the year
2012. Jatropha oil is produced from the seeds of the Jatropha curcas, a plant that can grow in
wastelands across India and the oil is considered to be an excellent source of bio-diesel. India is keen
on reducing its dependence on coal and petroleum to meet its increasing energy demand and
encouraging Jatropha cultivation is a crucial component of its energy policy.
Large parts of waste land have been selected for Jatropha cultivation and will provide much needed
employment to the rural poor of India. Business is also seeing the planting of Jatropha as a good
business opportunity. The government of India has identified 400,000 square kilometres (98 million
acres) of land where Jatropha can be grown, hoping it will replace 20% of Indias diesel consumption
by 2011.
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The project development of agronomics practices for Jatropha curcas is being implemented, with the
financial assistance of DBT, New Delhi. Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akol (MS) India
has planted Jatropha on 3 square kilometres, with the financial assistance of National Oilseeds and
Vegetables oils Development Board
(Source: Wikipedia)
Key players of bio-fuels
The United States, Brazil, and the European Union are the big three bio-fuels markets in terms of
volume
National government are mandating the tremendous scope of the bio-fuels market opportunity- at
$100 billion-plus per year but it is still in its infancy
Bio-fuels are now providing more than 50% of the fuel by volume that powers Brazils road
transportation vehicle with gasoline engines. While currently only a small fraction of the US and EU
total transportation fuel markets, this region dominate Brazil in absolute number in their respective
bio-diesel and ethanol markets.
Some Industry key players of Bio-fuels are in the field of cellulosic Ethanol key players are Verenium,
POET, Mascoma, BioGasol, Range Fuels, Coskat, Radian Bio-energy. In Advanced bio-fuel key
players are Amyris, in second generation SG bio-fuels, D1 Oils, in Third generation Aurora Bio-fuels,
Sapphire Energy, and in services IVG Energy, Kingsman, Piedmont Bio-fuels are some key players.
(Source: pike result).
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Key players of bio-fuel in India
The following are some of the key players of bio-fuel in India:
Indian railways: the Indian railways have started to use the oil (blended with diesel fuel in
various ratios) from the Jatropha plant to power its diesel engines with the great success.
Andhra Pradesh: It has entered into a formal agreement with Reliance Industries for
Jatropha planting. The company has selected 200 acres of land at Kakinada to grow jatropha
for high quality bio-diesel fuel.
Chhattisgarh: It has decided to plant 160 million saplings of Jatropha in all its 16 districts
during 2006 with the aim of becoming a bio-fuel self-reliant state by 2015. The central
government has provided Rs. 135 million to the state this year for developing jatropha nursery
facilities.
Karnataka: Farmers in semi-arid regions of Karnataka are planting Jatorpha as it is well
suited to those conditions Lab land Bio-diesel is a Mysore based Private Limited Company.
Since the year 2002, the company is active in bio-diesel and Jatorpha curcas-based research
and development activities headed by its Chairman and managing Director, Dr. Sudheer
Shetty
Tamil Nadu: This state is aggressively promoting the plantation of Jatorpha to help farmers
overcome the loss due to irregular rains during the past few years. The government has
contracted the development of jatropha in Tamil Nadu in a large scale to 4 entrepreneurs.
Namely M/s Mohan Breweries and Distilleries Limited, M/s Shiva Distilleries Limited, M/s
Dharani Sugars and Chemicals Limited and M/s River way Agro Products Private Ltd.
Currently the firms have cultivated the plant in about 3 square kilometres as against the goal
of 50 km square. The government of TN has also abolished purchase tax on Jatorpha, but
presently government has announced to reduce the 7.5% tollgate charges to 2.5%.
Rajasthan: Udaipur is the major supplier of the Jatropha seeds especially for the
germination. Many companies and government are taking interest to collect best seeds from
Udaipur. Bulk Agro (I) Pvt Ltd is the elite of the suppliers.
Maharashtra: in September 2007, the Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) joined
hands with the Maharashtra State Farming Corporation Ltd (MSFCL) for a jatropha seed-based bio-diesel venture.
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Various challenges for bio-fuel
Bio-fuel faces certain challenges which includes
Limited availability of inexpensive feedstock,
Energy output: Bio fuels have a lower energy output than traditional fuels and therefore
require greater quantities to be consumed in order to produce the same energy level.
Production carbon emissions: Several studies have been conducted to analyze the carbon
footprint of bio fuels, and while they may be cleaner to burn, there is strong indication that the
process to produce the fuel-including the machinery necessary to cultivate the crops and the
plants to produce the fuel-has hefty carbon emissions.
Ethical questions of food verses fuel: there has been growing storm of protest against bio
fuels in the last few years, rising to frenzy in the year 2008 as the global food crisis hit home.
It is being claimed that bio-fuels are even worse than fossil fuel, that bio fuel production is
driving millions of poor people into starvation. It is reported that tropical rainforests are being
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destroyed o make way for bio-fuel crops instead of food, creating food shortage and driving
up food prices, especially for the worlds poor.
Price volatility and low price of petroleum oil: To refine bio fuel to more efficient energy output
and to build the necessary manufacturing plants to increase bio fuel quantities will require a
high initial investment.
Sustainability of water: Massive quantities of water are required for proper irrigation of bio fuelcrops as well as to manufacture the fuel, which could strain local and regional water
resources.
Secondary land effect and biodiversity,
Infrastructure incompatibilities: Bio fuel is not widely available for consumers and most
vehicles are not equipped to run on bio fuel products. Limited availability reduces the
desirability of bio fuels as alternative energy sources.
Credit availability and global recession, and
Over capacity of production
Some solutions for the challenges
The feasibility of legally binding, enforceable standards should be considered for the
cultivation and processing of bio fuels with respect to the risks listed above- e.g. protection of
food and water supplies; access to land; biodiversity conservation; etc. This should include
consideration of the potential to incorporate such standards in international law.
Voluntary guidelines, best practice standards and credible certification/labelling schemes fordifferent bio fuels feed stocks and production practices should be quickly developed andpromoted, such as those being formulated by the roundtable for sustainable bio fuelssponsored by the Ecole Polytechnique Federable de Lausanne, the Dutch government and itscommission, the UK and FAO, UN-Energy, UNEP, UNID, UNCTAD and the WTO, amongothers(Source: international standards and certification/assurance systems are critical to ensurethat bio energy is produced using the most sustainable methods possible Id at p. 46, Id at
p.49) Bio fuel production should not be permitted that jeopardizes the price and supply of food and
crops essential for animal feed and local construction materials for the people of developingcountries
Exporters and Importers of the bio-fuel should be informed about and required to respect allenvironmental and labour laws and relevant local, national and international bio-fuelsstandards, guidelines and/or certification. Tariffs restricting purchase of bio-fuels fromdeveloping countries should be eliminated.
The introduction of foreign agribusiness in developing countries should be accompanied bymeasures to assure their observation of national and local environmental and labourprotections, and where these do not exist, of international requirements. They should berequired to pay taxes sufficient to compensate developing country governments and
communities for the exploitation of their resources. Provision should be made for formal social and environmental assessments of bio-fuel
development projects, with thorough studies of all the life-cycle costs including externalities,impacts and risks enumerated above, full public disclosure, public hearings, and communityinvolvement at all stages of development, such provisions should be account for the relativemagnitude of anticipated impacts and differences in regulatory capacity.
Provision of education and training to biomass producers, managers, policy-makers, farmersand the public is essential. Agricultural extension services can play an important role.
Measures should be adopted to prevent deterioration of land used for bio fuel throughmonoculture utilization. A variety of management practices, such as the use of bio-char,intercropping, crop rotation, double cropping and conservation tillage can reduce soil erosion,improve soil quality, reduce water consumption, and reduce susceptibility of crops to pestsand disease- thereby reducing the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
Further research should be pursued urgently on second generation bio fuel technologies andfeed stocks that do not compete with food production and on regulatory provisions to prevent
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degradation of the land from their utilization. Investment should be promoted on thosetechnologies that already are established. Particular attention should be paid to cascadingbusiness using biomass materials for various uses and recycling the waste for energy.
Combined heat and power (cogeneration) should be considered to facilitate maximum fuelutilization and minimization of costs.
In rural areas, consideration should be made of use of cooperatives and other forms of
collaboration to permit projects of viable scale. Temporary and strictly targeted subsidies to promote the introduction of bio fuels that meet
established standards, guidelines or certification should be promoted, along with thepossibility of funding of them through redirecting existing subsidies for fossil fuels. Allsubsidies should be transparent and linked to the economic development they are designedto promote.
Availability of financial and technical assistance from international agencies and private sectorshould be explored. Assistance on sustainability of bio fuels is obtainable from TheInternational Bio energy Partnership (IBEP), The Global Village Energy Partnership (GVEP)that also provides financial support, capacity building and technical assistance to small bioenergy projects.
Advantages of bio-fuels
Bio fuel advocates frequently point out the advantages of these plants and animal-based fuels, such
as:
Cost: once the technology is widely available, bio fuels can be significantly less expensive
than gasoline and other fossil fuels, particularly as worldwide demand for oil increases,
therefore increasing oil and gasoline price to unheard of levels.
Source material: Whereas oil is limited resource that comes from specific materials, bio fuels
can be manufactured from a wide range of materials including crop waste, manure, and other
by-products, making it a efficient step in recycling
Renewability: It takes thousands of years for fossil fuel to produce, but bio fuels are much
more easily renewable as new crop are grown and waste material is collected Security: By reducing dependence on foreign fuel sources, countries can protect the integrity
of their energy resources and make them safe from outside influences.
Economic stimulation: Because bio-fuels are produced locally, bio-fuel manufacturing plants
can employ hundreds or thousands of workers, creating new jobs in rural areas. Bio-fuel
production will also increase the demand for suitable bio-fuel crops, providing economic
stimulation to the agricultural industry.
Bio-degradability: Bio-fuels are easily biodegradable and far safer to handle then traditional
fuels, making spills less hazardous and much easier and less expensive to clean up.
Lower carbon emissions: when bio-fuel is burned, they produce significantly less carbon
output and fewer toxins, making them a safer alternative to preserve atmospheric quality and
lower air pollution.
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Potentials of bio-fuels
Beginning with the industrial revolution in the 1850s and accelerating ever since, the human
consumption of fossil fuels has elevated carbon dioxide levels from a concentration of 280
parts per million to more than 300 parts per million today. These increase are projected to
reach more than 560 parts per million before the end of the 21st
century. It is known that
carbon dioxide levels are substantially higher now than at any time in the last 800,000 years.
The government of many countries are taking steps to address fossil fuel use and
greenhouse gas emissions. The European commission, for example, has proposed new
standards for transport fuels that will reduce their contribution to climate change and air
pollution. These standards include increasing the use of bio-fuels.
Targets have been set by the European commission to increase the percentage of bio fuels in
transport fuel to 5.75% in 2010 and 10% by 2020. The overall strategic objective of these
targets is to limit the increase in global temperature
o By using 20% renewable energy in 2020
o By reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020 by 20% compared to 1999
o By 20% energy savings compared to projections for 2020
o And with a 10% binding minimum target for bio fuels in 2020
A 2005 joint US department of agriculture/department of energy concluded that the United
States could produce 227 billion litters of ethanol by 2030 through a combination of grains
and cellulosic feed stocks- enough to replace 30% of projected US gasoline demand- without
harming food, feed or fibre production, 227 billion litres of bio-fuel is enough to:
o Fill 6 million tanker trucks
o Fuel over 100 million automobiles for a year, if used as E85 (85% ethanol, 15% petrol
blend) fuel
o Eliminate roughly 5 super-tankers of imported crude oil each day- nearly 2,000
shipments a year.
Using crop waste for cellulosic ethanol could potentially replace 7.9 million barrels of oil per
day by 2050.
Of the worlds 47 poorest countries, 38 are net oil importers, and 25 of these import all of their
oil. Yet many of these countries have substantial agricultural bases and are well-positioned to
grow highly productive energy crops.
Research has shown that ethanol blends reduce greenhouse gas emissions from combustion
engines. It is projected, for example, that bio fuels can reduce United States greenhouse gas
emissions by 1.7 billion tonnes per year. Estimated greenhouse gas reduction for bio-fuelsfeed stocks include: fibres (switch grass, poplar) 70-110% wastes (waste oil, harvest residue,
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sewage) 65-100%, sugar (sugar cane, sugar beet) 40-90%, vegetable oils (rapeseed,
sunflower seed, soybeans) 45-75%, and starches (corn, wheat) 15-40%.
(Sources: USDA/DOE. Biomass as feedstock for a bio energy and bio products industry,
USDA/DOE (2005) IEA. Bio fuels for transport, IEA/OECD (2004)
Various insights to bio-fuels
In the short term: Pain and uncertainty abound in the markets in response to low petro-fuel
prices, tight feedstock supplies, production overcapacity, economic shocks, infrastructure
incompatibilities, blend walls, and sustainability criticisms.
In the middle term: The bio fuel market is shifting towards feedstock that reduces carbon
footprints by greater than 50% and are characterised as low cost and non-food. Commercial-
scale production of cellulosic ethanol meets those criteria and community consensusindicates that it will be ready for widespread licensing by 2014. The increased availability of
flex-fuel vehicles will enable the use of higher percentage blends of ethanol (e.g. E85) and
remove demand barriers. Bio-diesel will experience a series of feedstock-based growth spurts
starting with low-grade greases in 2010, followed by jatropha oil in 2013, and finally algae oil
in 2015. Ethanol and bio-diesel will face more completion from renewable drop in
hydrocarbons, including green diesel and green gasoline. Jet fuel is the major new transport
fuels market for bio-fuels. Big oil will steadily increase its market share of the renewable
markets.
In the long term: the future is bright for bio fuels, as illustrated by the following:o The growth profile for bio fuels from 2009 to 2022 is excellent, with a world market
CAGR of 9% for ethanol and 15% for bio-diesel. These growth estimates are based
on bio-fuels consumption mandated by national governments.
o The world markets for bio-fuels will surpace $280 billion by 2022.
o The market environment is dynamic and is adapting to overcome obstades.
o The path forwards look like evolution, not revolution.
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References
http://biofuels.croplife.org
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel
http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/
http://biofuel.org.uk/
http://130.226.56.153/rispubl/SYS/syspdf/energconf05/Session17_kumar_pre.pdf
http://www.clean-energy-ideas.com/energy_definitions/definition_of_biofuel.html
http://www.svlele.com/
http://renewableenergyresource.net/
Pike research
http://journeytoforever.org/
http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/biofuels/
http://www.biofuelswatch.com/
http://www.molecular-plant-biotechnology.info/fuel-biotechnology/bioethanol.htm
http://www.futurecars.com/futurefuels/bioethanol.html
http://www.wri.org/project/biofuels
http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/
http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/cel10_ottinger_2.pdf
http://fbae.org/2009/FBAE/website/our-position-biofuel_potential-future-crop-of-farmers.html
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