Biofuels
Biofuels such as ethanol are currently being presented as the “clean, green” alternative to fossil fuels but are they?
It is true that Biofuels when burned do not release extra greenhouse gases. But Biofuels rely on growing crops and growing crops requires energy input – current farming practices rely on artificial fertilisers, which are created using large amounts of electric power, generated by burning fossil fuels. Thus, biofuels indirectly add to the atmosphere’s greenhouse gas levels. The process of refining and extracting biofuels also requires electricity generation.
If biofuels are to replace fossil fuels, this will require either a huge diversion of cropland from food production or clearing further areas of natural forest to make way for biofuel plantations. The clearing of forests is already happening at an extortionary rate, we cannot afford to loose more as it is the forests that are the lungs of our land.
A team of UK scientists wrote in the magazine “Science”, that given the same area of land, forests could absorb up to nine times more CO2 than the production of biofuels could save.
There is also concern that using food crops for biofuels could not only jeopardise food availability but also water. With water being of increasing concern in Australia with many farmers still affected by drought.
What is needed to make a cleaner environment is a better public transport system and improved bikeways and cars that are more energy efficient such as the electric car.
Ann
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February 10th, 2008
Re: Biofuels
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Ann, you make some great points. In addition to the considerations you mentioned, we also must take into account EROEI (energy returned on energy invested - does it actually take more energy to create biofuels than biofuels can supply?), soil and water degradation from chemical fertilisers, and the viability of biofuels as a long term solution. As you mentioned, the entire biofuel production cycle requires input of fossil fuels, for which supply is declining while cost and demand is increasing. That being the case, biofuels could only be considered as a short term response, and the long term economic, social and environmental benefits or drawbacks of using them in the transition must be weighed. Same with electric cars, hybrids and the like- single family vehicles, regardless of their energy efficiency, aren't a long term solution. Energy Bulletin is an excellent source for news and information, and they have an entire section dedicated to biofuels and another for transport. Anyone making these types of decisions should acquaint themselves with the full scope of the issues before choosing any "solutions". After several years of following the news and issues, my personal conclusion is that there is no single technological solution - a vast array of small, local, transitional responses will have to be used simultaneously, along with sharing and simply using less. This will require a change of mindset, and a thorough understanding that no solution will allow us to continue consuming as we do now.