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Mae Anne Mangaoil

EMS 1011- Sec 001

Biofuels: An Alternative Source of Energy

Throughout the years, the rapid increase in human population and the recent advances in

technology have increased the demand for energy, more particularly non-renewable resources

such as fossil fuels. However, the continuous burning of these fossil fuels tremendously

increases the level of CO! in the atmosphere, which leads to environmental problems.

Additionally, the steady increase in their consumption causes them to deplete faster than

expected, which pose concerns regarding their availability and ability to meet peoples’ needs in

the future Because fossil fuels have negative impacts in the environment and their depletion in

the near future, it is crucial to find an alternative source of energy that not only will reduce

environmental impacts, but will also ensure that it will be able to meet the demand for energy for

decades. One of the recent and most effective alternatives to fossil fuels that is receiving

significant attention from many renowned leaders and scientists are biofuels.

Biofuels are “fuels produced directly or indirectly from organic material – biomass –

including plant materials and animal waste,” (Liquid Biofuels, 2018). Additionally, they are

subdivided into four generations: first, second, third and fourth. The first-generation biofuels are

made from sugar starch or vegetable oil, while the second-generation biofuels are produced from

cellulosic materials and are “greener” since they are made from “sustainable feedstock” (Types

of Biofuel, 2010). The third-generation biofuels are made from algae or cyanobacteria that has a

high oil mass fraction (about 70%) content, while the fourth-generation biofuels are based on

“biohydrogen production by embedding parts of the photosynthesis apparatus in artificial

membranes” (Prasad & Dhany, 2011). There are also different types of biofuels, but much
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emphasis will be given on ethanol and biodiesel. Moreover, ethanol is a colorless alcohol made

from corn, sugar cane, sugar beet or starch (maize and wheat), while biodiesel is produced “by

combining vegetable oil or animal fat with an alcohol” (Liquid Biofuels, 2018). These biofuels

help reduce carbon emissions, help improve air and water quality, burn cleaner than non-

renewable energy sources, and will solve the demand for energy for decades. Thus, they should

be greatly encouraged in many countries.

Many countries are switching to biofuels to fuel their vehicles because not only are they

cheaper, but they also have been proven to reduce carbon emissions and burn cleaner.

Furthermore, biofuels are having positive environmental impacts on the planet. Likewise, since

2007, many vehicles in the United States use E85 or flex fuel, which is made out of 85% ethanol

and 15% gas (Roos, 2012). This fuel burns much cleaner and produces 39% less CO! than

regular gasoline (Roos, 2012). Not only does it reduce CO! emissions, it is also 20% less

expensive than gasoline in many areas as of 2011 (Ethanol: The facts, 2013). Additionally, based

on reports by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), corn ethanol can reduce gas

emissions by up to 43% compared to gasoline. It is also estimated to be further reduced by 50%

by 2022 and can be further reduced to up to 76% through advances in technology, increase in

efficiency and agricultural practices (USDA Report, 2017).

Meanwhile, according to the Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA), one liter

of ethanol can reduce net emissions of CO! by over 99%, which is similar to one liter of ethanol

saving 2.3 kg of CO! (Ethanol and emission reductions, 2016). According to the US EPA, one

liter of “cellulosic ethanol” can reduce net emissions of CO! by 90.9%, which results in one liter

of ethanol saving 2.11 kg of CO! (Ethanol and emission reductions, 2016). With this in mind, if

Australians switch to E10 (10% ethanol and 90% gasoline), they can reduce their CO! emissions
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by 4 million tonnes (Ethanol and emission reductions, 2016). Switching to E10 also saves

consumers $ 0.04 per gallon on average (Piccirilli Dorsey, Inc, 2016). Moreover, another fuel

that is largely used is biodiesel, and it is more ideal than regular diesel because it burns much

cleaner and produces 75% less CO! than regular diesel (Roos, 2012). Finally, because of the

reduction of CO! emissions due to the use of biofuels: ethanol- blended fuels and biodiesels,

many countries should switch to biofuels and contribute in reducing their gas emissions.

Aside from reducing carbon emissions, biofuels also help improve air quality. In general,

air quality of a certain area can be affected by the weather, population, and the number of

chemical plants and manufacturing industries near the area. Additionally, it is very important that

the area that people live in has good air quality because it “lets our lungs and bodies work as they

should,” while poor air quality can cause asthma and several breathing problems to many people

(Know the Common Causes of Poor Air Quality, 2013). However, emissions from automobiles

that use gasoline emits many harmful particulates in the air including “ Sulfur dioxide(SO! ),

Carbon dioxide (CO! ), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon

monoxide (CO) and particulate matter (PM),” which increases pollution and worsens health

problems related to the circulatory and respiratory systems in many people (Gaffney & Marley,

2009). Moreover, the addition of VOCs and NOx with sunlight further results in the formation

of tropospheric ozone, which is the main component of smog (Prasad & Dhany, 2011).

Fortunately, by using biofuels to power automobiles, the pollutants from gas emissions that are

from fossil fuels can be reduced significantly. In addition, using biomass instead of fossil fuels

reduces the amount of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. In particular, ethanol, which is a high

octane fuel, and contains 34.7% oxygen by weight, when added to fuel (ethanol- blended fuel),

can increase the amount of complete fuel combustion that can reduce exhaust emission and
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petroleum use. Moreover, it can replace benzene, a known carcinogen (Prasad & Dhany, 2011).

Another example is biodiesel, which is similar to ethanol because it is also an oxygenated fuel

(contains 10 % oxygen) and has a high combustion efficiency, which reduces the amount of

carbon monoxide emitted in the atmosphere and “unburnt hydrocarbon” (Prasad & Dhany,

2011). Furthermore, a lot of crops used in the production of biofuels are from “agricultural and

forest residues” (Qin, et al., 2018). Initially, they are burned, which significantly contribute to air

pollution resulting to poor air quality, but now, they are used instead in producing biofuels,

which help meet the demand for energy and reduce the negative impacts in the environment

(Qin, et al., 2018).

Additionally, biofuels help improve water quality. In general, water quality is determined

by a series of complex scientific tests and many factors can affect it including pH, dissolved

oxygen concentration, ability to support life (bacteria, plants, animals, etc.) and other physical,

chemical and biological factors (Water Quality, 2016). Moreover, having good water quality is

very important because people use it in their daily life (from drinking water to cooking, cleaning,

bathing, laundry, etc.) that having unsafe and dirty water can result in the spread of diseases,

infections and several health problems. Likewise, one of the causes of poor water quality is fossil

fuels. Since water is prominently used in the extraction of fossil fuels, it can get contaminated

with various pollutants: “sediment to synthetic chemicals” (Allen et al., 2012). In addition,

adjacent bodies of water and even groundwater may be contaminated by wastes due to the

extraction process (Allen et al., 2012). Likewise, “mining and drilling” for these fuels can bring

surface materials including water and generate “waste materials or by-products” (Allen et al.,

2012). This water can contain dissolved salts, trace metals, hydrocarbons and radionuclides

(Allen et al., 2012).

Additionally, mining and drilling for these fuels can lead to disasters due to technological

failures. An example is the recent Deepwater Horizon Spill in 2010, which leaked over 4.9

million barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico causing the contamination of various bodies

of water, destroying habitats and ecosystems, and killing and injuring many animals (Allen et al.,

2012). Its effects were so devastating that several scientists and leading professionals studied its

effects on wildlife, such as several organizations helping rescue animals, restoring damaged

habitats and ecosystems, etc. Until today, the impacts of this disaster are still evident and many

animals exposed to it give births to those with defects. In general, the process of extracting fossil

fuels to make it usable, can significantly affect surface and groundwater and worsen water

quality. Therefore, an effective alternative is using biofuels to meet the demand for energy. Since

biofuels do not need to be extracted from the ground, it prevents contamination of ground and

surface water through these methods. It will also prevent disasters from happening, such as the

Deepwater Horizon spill, because they are not extracted from the ocean floor, which will prevent

the destruction of ecosystems, habitats, and wildlife. Additionally, proper agricultural

management and practices can also help improve water quality.

Not only do biofuels reduce carbon emissions, improve air and water quality, but they

also ensure that people will have an energy supply that can last for decades. According to recent

studies, as population and the consumption of fossil fuels continue to increase, the deposit of

fossil fuels is depleting faster than expected. Based on recent consumptions, oil and gas will only

last until 2052 and fossil fuels until 2088 (The end of fossil fuels, n.d.). Since energy is needed in

homes, companies, industries, etc. it is crucial to ensure that there will be another source of

energy if fossil fuels do deplete in the near future. One of the effective alternative sources of

energy are biofuels. Since biofuels are crop based, it is safe to assume that people will never run
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out of it as long as crop production continues. This will not be a problem because there are

always new advancements in technology and agricultural practices through numerous research

and studies, which will ensure the production of these crops for biofuel use.

Although there are growing concerns about biofuels competing for food availability, this

is not exactly the case. China, for example, has been trying to solve its issue regarding future

energy that will not only meet their demand for it, but will also have less environmental impact

and will not compete for food supply. As a result, it is now using biofuels as a source of energy.

Not only was China able to meet its demand for energy, but it has also seen their positive

impacts in the environment. Biofuels also do not compete for the country’s food supply as they

use agricultural and forestry residues for ethanol and produce different crops that would be used

in biofuel production (Qin, et al., 2018).

In conclusion, biofuels have helped reduce the emissions of carbon dioxide and other

harmful gasses in varying amounts depending on the percentage of biofuels (ethanol, biodiesel

etc.) blended to regular fuel. They have also helped reduce and even eliminate the emissions of

harmful particulates in the air due to the burning of fossil fuels, which have improved air quality

and reduced health problems related to the circulatory and respiratory systems. Furthermore, they

have prevented the contamination of surface and groundwater, and disasters that can impact

ecosystems and wildlife because they do not have to be extracted from the ground and the ocean

floor. They are also a renewable resource, which will meet the demand for energy for decades to

come. Overall because of the positive impacts of the use of biofuels in the environment and their

availability for decades, many countries should switch to biofuels instead of fossil fuels as a

source of energy.
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References

Allen, L., Cohen, M. J., Abelson, D., & Miller, B. (2012). Fossil Fuels and Water Quality. The

World’s Water,73-96. doi:10.5822/978-1-59726-228-6_4

Ethanol and emission reductions. Bioenergy Australia (2016). Retrieved from

http://biofuelsassociation.com.au/biofuels/ethanol/effect-of-ethanol-on-emissions/

Ethanol: The facts, the questions. The Des Moines Register (2013). Retrieved from

https://archive.is/20130110210044/http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID

=/20060827/OPINION03/608250397/1035/OPINION

Gaffney, J. S., & Marley, N. A. (2009). The impacts of combustion emissions on air quality and

climate – From coal to biofuels and beyond. Atmospheric Environment,43(1), 23-36.

doi:10.1016/j.atmosenv.2008.09.016

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causes-of-poor-air-quality/

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https://www.greenfacts.org/en/biofuels/l-2/1-definition.htm

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energy/energy-independence/the-end-of-fossil-fuels

Types Of Biofuel. (2010). BIOFUEL. Retrieved from http://biofuel.org.uk/types-of-biofuels.html

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