People may be wondering why we have to make biofuels. Using biofuels actually has three benefits: environmental, agricultural and economic benefits.
The environmental benefit has always been the most important reason why people use biofuels. Tests show that biofuels don’t pose a threat to environment or human health. Biofuels contain no sulfur or aromatics. When people use biofuels in a conventional diesel engine, the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide will be substantially reduced. For instance, ethanol is used as an additive to replace other gasoline additives. Recently, research has showed that increased use of ethanol-blend fuel would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. A 20% blend of biodiesel with petroleum diesel produces 12-18% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum diesel. The blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline produces 3-4% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. All these statistics show that biofuels produce fewer emissions than fossil fuels do.
Agricultural benefit is another benefit. Encouraging the production of biofuels will also affect the agricultural market. Take the United States for example. Ethanol is the dominant biofuel in the United States. It is estimated that about 16% of the U.S. corn crop is used for ethanol production, the third-largest use of American corn, behind animal feed and export purposes. Because farmers can earn more from value-added products, they will invest in biofuel processing plants. If biofuels use a high proportion of crop, the price of crop will definitely rise. According to one study, farmers grow corn near an ethanol plant receive an average of 2-5% more for their corn.
The environmental benefit has always been the most important reason why people use biofuels. Tests show that biofuels don’t pose a threat to environment or human health. Biofuels contain no sulfur or aromatics. When people use biofuels in a conventional diesel engine, the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide will be substantially reduced. For instance, ethanol is used as an additive to replace other gasoline additives. Recently, research has showed that increased use of ethanol-blend fuel would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector. A 20% blend of biodiesel with petroleum diesel produces 12-18% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than petroleum diesel. The blend of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline produces 3-4% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline. All these statistics show that biofuels produce fewer emissions than fossil fuels do.
Agricultural benefit is another benefit. Encouraging the production of biofuels will also affect the agricultural market. Take the United States for example. Ethanol is the dominant biofuel in the United States. It is estimated that about 16% of the U.S. corn crop is used for ethanol production, the third-largest use of American corn, behind animal feed and export purposes. Because farmers can earn more from value-added products, they will invest in biofuel processing plants. If biofuels use a high proportion of crop, the price of crop will definitely rise. According to one study, farmers grow corn near an ethanol plant receive an average of 2-5% more for their corn.
Using biofuels can also be economic. To many fleet managers, biodiesel is their least-cost strategy to comply with state and federal regulations. When people use biodiesel in engines, major engine modifications are not required; that is, operators keep their fleets, refueling stations and skilled mechanics. Nothing is changed except for air quality. What’s more, people don’t have to change the storage facilities. The standard storage facilities used for petroleum diesel can be used for biodiesel as well. And biodiesel can be operated in any diesel engine so the operator don’t have to worry that they have to spend lots of money buying new facilities for biofuels.
Written by Melody
Works Cited
"Biofuels - An Energy, Environmental or Agricultural Policy?" Virtual Library.8 Feb 2007. 27 May 2008.<http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/library/PRBpubs/prb0637-e.htm>.
"Why Biofuel?" Us Biofuel Holdings. 27 May 2008.
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