Energy
Biofuels are one path we could use to meet our ever-expanding energy needs in the future. Read on for more information about this important development. |
We rely on transportation to drive to work, take vacations, move food and products to stores, and enjoy the conveniences of modern life. Many of us use gas without thinking about its effects on the environment. However, scientists have been researching the negative aspects of traditional fuel and inventing new fuel alternatives as a result. These fuels, called biofuels, may help reverse pollution in the future. Let’s explore what biofuels are and discuss their sustainability.
What Are Biofuels?
Biofuels are fuels made from living things like plants, wood chips, or algae. They are considered a natural alternative to fossil fuels, which are the remnants of prehistoric biological matter. Petroleum and coal are geologically derived, while ethanol or biodiesel are biologically created.| Related articles |
Types of Biofuels
After earning a bachelor of science in biology or pursuing graduate degrees, professionals and researchers have come up with a variety of biofuel options. They’re divided up into four generations, since ongoing research provides ever-increasing sources for biofuel. The first generation creates fuel from sugars, oils, animal fats and starches. The second generation of biofuels are derived from agricultural waste like willow or wood chips. Third generation of biofuels come from algae, which is a sustainable and quick-growing resource. Fourth generation fuels include plants specifically engineered to create biofuel.
The Sustainability of Biofuels
Scientists started looking for greener alternatives to traditional fuel once they realized the negative impact on our environment. Today, over half of the earth’s pollution is caused by vehicle emissions. These emissions contain harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, carcinogens, and nitrogen and sulfur dioxides. Smog can cause health problems for all who breathe it, or trickle down into water sources and pollute our food. Not to mention, traditional gasoline tears away at our ozone layer, which protects life on earth from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.In contrast, biofuels don’t put off any greenhouse gas emissions at all. In fact, switching to biofuels can actually reduce the carbon dioxide in the air. How? Growing crops to create biofuel (like sugar for ethanol) provides more plants that suck up and neutralize carbon dioxide. In this respect, biofuels can partially reverse the damage we’ve done to our planet.
The Risk Factor
The world hasn’t seen a full shift to biofuels yet. This is because of the ongoing debate about risk factors and potential problems associated with the switch. Some opponents of biofuel debate the impact on global food systems, our natural environment, oil prices, sustainability, and loss of biodiversity, to say the least. Biofuels have a huge potential promise, but there are also serious hurdles researchers and developers must overcome in order to not create more problems than they solve.While we can all agree that fossil fuels harm our environment, biofuels may not fully be the savior we’re looking for. Yes, they reduce emissions, but bring with them a host of new potential problems. Researchers still have a long way to go before biofuels replace fossil fuels at your local gas station.
| By Anica Oaks | Embed |
Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she's used to putting things to a vote. Also, cartwheels are her specialty. You can connect with Anica here. Anica writes on behalf of the University of Florida, with degree programs such as a bachelor of science in biology that advance the development of biofuels and other conservation directives.
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