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BIOFUELS
BIOFUELS
HISTORY
(Gerald Kutney)
From the time of the caveman until the early Industrial Revolution, biofuels - namely wood and the
advanced biofuel of the day, charcoal - reigned supreme. Both fossil fuels and biofuels originate from
biomass. The major difference between them is that fossil fuels are sequestered carbon, and biofuels
are renewable carbon
A biofuel is usually made from plants that can be grown and harvested
efficiently. In the United States, ethanol from corn is one of the primary
biofuels, and it is also used as an additive for gasoline. In Brazil, sugar cane is
the primary source of ethanol. The United Kingdom uses a different biofuel
called biodiesel, which is generated from palm oil. Turning organic material
into a usable fuel involves a refining process that generally includes
fermentation, chemical reactions, and heat.
Because the plants used to produce biofuels can be grown and harvested,
making them renewable resources, biofuel is a more sustainable alternative to
traditional fossil fuels. It still requires a lot of energy to produce, so it's far
from perfect; however, according to the Energy Future Coalition, for every
gallon of oil used in processing and distributing biofuels, 12 to 20 gallons of
biofuel can be produced. Very little conversion needs to take place to make
regular diesel engines run on biodiesel. Rubber fuel lines need to be replaced
with metal ones, and filters need to be checked in the weeks following the
conversion. For non-diesel engines, a full engine conversion is necessary.
BIOGAS
A biogas plant is a decentralized energy system, which can lead to self-sufficiency in heat
and power needs, and at the same time reduces environmental pollution. The
components of a modern biogas (or anaerobic digestion) plant include: manure collection,
anaerobic digester, effluent treatment, biogas storage, and biogas use/electricity
generating equipment.
(home biogas.com)
(GLW ENERGY)
Biogas forms when paper, food scraps, and yard waste decompose in landfills, and it
can be produced by processing sewage and animal manure in special vessels called
digesters.
Ethanol is made from crops such as corn and sugar cane that are fermented to produce
fuel ethanol for use in vehicles. Biodiesel is produced from vegetable oils and animal
fats and can be used in vehicles and as heating oil.
Electric and hybrid cars both use technology that is designed to decrease the use of gasoline fuel for
powering car engines. Electric cars are totally electric, meaning that they must be plugged in and
charged, and that the range of the car is only as far as the charge. Hybrid cars use a mixture of gas
and electric power to create a gas efficient partially electric car with a less limited range.
Some hybrid car owners have modified their cars further, to run entirely on electricity except in
emergency situations, in which case the drivers use gasoline power.
At the turn of the twentieth century, most cars actually were electric. The cars ran quietly and
efficiently, and had reasonably good ranges. For a variety of reasons, the internal combustion
engine powered by gasoline overtook electric cars in popularity: by the 1920s, most cars were gas
powered. The electric car faded from public popularity until the late 1960s, when concerns about a
growing oil crisis and emissions drove several companies to manufacture electric cars again, albeit
on a small scale. The cars captured a small amount of the market share, and slowly grew in
popularity and in the public eye.
Dependency on foreign oil and awareness about the environment in the late 1990s caused some car
owners to convert their gasoline cars to electric power, and automobile manufacturers started
making electric cars a bigger part of their lineup. Modern electric cars are comparable to gasoline
powered ones in terms of speed, and many of them have long ranges which can be increased at
charging stations along the way. Electric cars are also nonpolluting, and can be powered using clean
energy such as wind or hydropower. For this reason, they appeal to many eco-conscious
consumers.
Consumers who feel limited by electric cars have turned to hybrid cars such as the Honda Insight
and Toyota Prius. Many car manufacturers are including hybrids in their lineup to cater to people
who would like the clean energy of an electric car without the difficulties of managing charging and
range. A hybrid car has a conventional gasoline engine and a bank of rechargeable batteries that
charge while the car is running. When the driver makes limited demands on the car's power, such as
driving around town or idling at a stoplight, the car runs on the stored electricity in the batteries.
When the driver demands a burst of energy or is driving at sustained high speeds, the gasoline
engine kicks in.
A hybrid car is a more ecologically sound choice than a conventional gasoline powered car, but it still
carries environmental issues. Although most hybrids are low polluting, they do add to the overall
emissions load created by gas-powered cars. For people who are not ready to make the leap to an
electric car, or find it unfeasible in their areas, a hybrid is a great choice. Electric cars, on the other
hand, are totally nonpolluting and do not rely on gasoline, making them a better choice. Individuals
who feel really passionate about the environment can continue to walk, bicycle, and take public
transit.
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