Biodiesel is a liquid fuel made from renewable sources such as new and used vegetable oils and animal fats. It is a more environmentally friendly substitute for. Energy 101 · Bioenergy Technology Office · Conversion Technologies. Biofuel, any fuel that is obtained from biomass, i.e. plant or algae material or animal waste. Since such raw materials can be easily refilled, biofuel is considered a renewable energy source in contrast to fossil fuels such as crude oil, coal and natural gas.
Biofuel is generally advocated as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to crude oil and other fossil fuels, particularly against the background of rising oil prices and increasing concerns about the contribution of fossil fuels to global warming. Many critics raise concerns about the extent of the expansion of certain biofuels due to the economic and environmental costs associated with the refining process and the potential removal of large areas of land for food production. A biofuel is any liquid fuel that is obtained from biological material such as trees, agricultural waste, crops or grass. Biofuel can be made from any carbon source that can be quickly refilled, such as plants.
Biofuels are used all over the world, and the biofuel industry is expanding rapidly in Europe, Asia, and North and South America. They contain no sulfur and produce low carbon monoxide and toxic emissions. Concerns over rising oil prices and greenhouse gas emissions have helped sustain biofuel development and production over the past two decades. The most commonly produced liquid biofuel is ethanol (ethyl alcohol), which is produced by fermenting starch or sugar.
Large-scale production of biofuels worldwide can significantly reduce emissions from the transport sector. America’s largest oil company focuses on advanced biofuels that don’t compete with food or water supplies. The majority of the funds allocated are intended for converting algae and plant waste into fuel for transportation. The use of regular raw materials such as corn and soybeans as the main ingredient in first-generation biofuels sparked the “food versus fuel” debate. One particular promise of biofuels is that when combined with a new technology called carbon capture and storage, the process of producing and using biofuels could be able to continuously remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The aim of the chapter is to make readers aware of how the expansion of biofuels could be promoted, while at the same time being aware of the effects on water. Biofuels also offer environmental benefits but, depending on how they are produced, can also have serious environmental disadvantages. Light, carbon dioxide and nutrients are used to produce the raw material, “expanding the carbon resource available for the production of biofuels. When evaluating the economic benefits of biofuels, the energy used to produce them must be considered.
For this reason, biofuels are particularly useful to meet the energy needs of the transport sector. This chapter provides a summary analysis of the various effects of biofuel production on water use and scarcity in the United States along the biofuel supply chain. It is expected that pursuing measures to promote biofuels will benefit the well-being and sustainability of societies. Liquid biofuels are of particular interest as there is already an extensive infrastructure for their use, particularly for transport.
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