StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

The Production of Biofuels - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
This essay "The Production of Biofuels" examines the cons associated with biofuel production as well as their counter views. As earlier noted, biofuel is produced from agricultural crops, especially corn. This means biofuel has generated a market that competes with the food market for crop harvest…
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER96.4% of users find it useful
The Production of Biofuels
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "The Production of Biofuels"

Biofuels
For the past few years, there has been a marked increase in the prices of oil due to the fast depletion of the oil reserves. This has led to general economic difficulties in many countries. This has motivated the production of biofuels as an alternative and aid in maintaining or increasing the social and economic strength of local communities. Biofuel is made from agricultural crops grown in the US and other parts of the world. It is projected that in the near future, biofuel will be able to yield significant environmental advantages to its consumers while assuring energy security. However, biofuels are not an overall good alternative to our reliance on petroleum in today's economy. In effect, the low supply of food commodities in the food market has translated to increased global food prices (Bruce et al, 2010).

According to FAPRI (2009), biofuel production has also encouraged farmers to limit their production of other crops and concentrate on corn. This has led to the reduction in the supply of other types of crops hence an increase in their prices. Extensive corn production has also encouraged extensive land use and potential encroachment into wild habitats, forests, and swampy areas. This threatens the potential of the land to sustain future generations, especially encroachment to wetlands.

Bruce et al (2010) state that during biofuel production, a lot of energy is used making the project uneconomical. In some cases, the energy used is more than what is produced. For others like ethanol, 1 unit of energy produces 1.5 units of ethanol. It should also be noted that biofuel is produced from biomass. This is renewable and degradable hence it will have cumulative long-term negative effects on future generations. A study on biodiesel utilization has revealed that there is an increase in NOx in biodiesel emissions. This means it has not served to mitigate the effects of fossil fuels upon the environment.

Counter views
Concerning the contribution of biofuel to increased global food prices, biofuel cannot be totally be blamed for it. This is because such a project can only be undertaken by a country after a thorough assessment of its ability to feed its people and the availability of excess for biofuel production. Currently, there are enough farms to grow crops that support this project. Countries that produce biofuels like the US and Brazil have significantly increased their corn, sugarcane, and vegetable oil production. Farmers plant these crops knowing they are meant for two markets. In some cases, they even have a surplus of these commodities at the end of the year. According to Colitt (2008), improved economic conditions leading to better feeding can be blamed for the rise in food prices.

Though it may be said that biofuel production is uneconomical due to its input versus output, the situation has changed over the past couple of years. There have been significant improvements in technology and recent tests reveal that at the present, biodiesel and ethanol produce energy that is comparable to conventional diesel. In fact, biodiesel gives out 3.2 units per unit of energy used in its manufacture. This is almost similar to the production of traditional full-like gasoline that requires 20% energy depending on what it can produce. This leaves the consumers with 80%. Biofuel is generally cheaper.

Despite the improvements in technology that make biofuel production economical and increased crop acreage, their impacts are still significant. Famine is a global issue and it is inhuman for people of one country to starve as those in another use their food to make oil for driving vehicles and machines. There is less difference between energy used to produce gasoline and biofuel. This means biofuels have not addressed the issue of the energy crisis adequately. Its net output is low. Most people are going through hard economic times hence there is a minimal chance that improved economic conditions are the cause of increased food prices.

Conclusion
It is important to acknowledge that the global oil reserves getting depleted and this requires a shift from dependency on fossil fuel. This also helps to reduce the effects that fossil fuels have had on the environment. The production of biofuels is one good alternative. It produces a lot of fuel, reduces dependency on fossils, it is safer for the environment and the pocket. However, a weighty consideration of the cons associated with biofuels disqualifies it as an overall good alternative to our reliance on petroleum in today's economy. This calls utilization of other less harmful sources of energy like wind, water, and solar. This will ensure that biofuel does not face extinction and neither does it threaten the existence of man by creating a competitive market for food products and cropland.

Read More
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Biofuels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/environmental-studies/1429678-biofuels
(Biofuels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words)
https://studentshare.org/environmental-studies/1429678-biofuels.
“Biofuels Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/environmental-studies/1429678-biofuels.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF The Production of Biofuels

Micro economic assignment

Figure 1: Isoquant Isocost Analysis for The Production of Biofuels From other raw materials and plant matter, liquid fuels referred to as biofuels can be produced.... From the Isocost Isoquant analysis graph above, we assume that corn (C) and Oil (O) are utilized in The Production of Biofuels (B).... For The Production of Biofuels to be effected, corn has to be used.... Consequently, the demand that arises from The Production of Biofuels and that of food consumption would be compromised as depicted in figure 2 with D2 and D1 respectively....
6 Pages (1500 words) Assignment

The Position of Biofuels In Europe Currently

The rising consciousness with regard to the environmental problems have augmented the degree of emphasis on The Production of Biofuels and promoting it to be a fresh energy source.... Therefore, the need for the production of biofuel in Europe was identified from the ‘Kyoto Protocol'.... This made Europe embark on certain policies which were considered to prove encouraging for the production of biofuel.... The requirement of biofuels has been witnessing an increase owing to its use with regard to the transport segment as a reaction to the issue of energy security as well as concerns regarding climate alterations....
7 Pages (1750 words) Literature review

Advantages and Disadvantages of Biofuels

Alternatively, such crops could avert water, land as well as other resources away from the production of food.... A current study meant for the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development illustrates that market driven growth of ethanol in United States' increased corn prices by 21% in 2009,compared to the prices that would prevailing if the production of ethanol had been frozen in 2004.... A large number of R&D efforts are at present being positioned to the production of 2nd generation biofuels from waste, crop residues and non food crops....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

EU Regulation and Meaningful Targets for Biofuel Deployment

The Production of Biofuels can be managed in a way that significantly reduces the risk of shorter supplies.... n particular, a review of the literature suggests that many of the problems perceived with The Production of Biofuels are related to the production chain and can be resolved by improving and monitoring production channels and methodologies.... able of Contents Abstract 2 Introduction 4 Arguments Against The Production of Biofuels 6 Increase in Food Prices 6 Biofuels and the Environment 9 Arguments in Favour of Biofuels 12 Analysis 16 Conclusion 19 Bibliography 20 Introduction Between 2006 and 2008, the world's crops reached unprecedented high levels of production and at the same time, the price of food increased significantly....
20 Pages (5000 words) Essay

Scientists Produce Super Strain for Biofuel Production

In the essay 'Scientists Produce Super Strain for Biofuel production' the author analyzes a yeast super-strain to produce fuel from non-food lignocellulosic biomass, especially that from crop and domestic waste.... The author states that until now, scientists have been using yeast for biofuel production....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Assessment of a Dry and a Wet Route for the Production of Biofuels

This literature review "Assessment of a Dry and a Wet Route for The Production of Biofuels" focuses on microalgae that release various high-value by-products of metabolism that are useful in the production of renewable energy when cultured on a large scale.... Both routes have diesel production as their main target and, because it is in liquid form, it can be mixed with fossil diesel and applied in the transport industry.... How It Was Applied To Solve A Particular Problem For a long time, there has been a need for less energy-intensive models of biofuel production from microalgae, particularly by reducing energy consumed during dewatering (Xu et al, 2011)....
2 Pages (500 words) Literature review

Global Warming, Space Exploration, and Human Extinction

This report "Global Warming, Space Exploration, and Human Extinction" discusses the economic and political benefits of space exploration; the importance of space exploration to the human race.... The primary role of science should be to increase the chances of survivability for human beings.... ... ...
5 Pages (1250 words) Report

What Is The Current Position of Biofuels In Europe

The rising consciousness with regard to the environmental problems have augmented the degree of emphasis on The Production of Biofuels and promoting it to be a fresh energy source.... Therefore, the need for the production of biofuel in Europe was identified from the 'Kyoto Protocol'.... The following paper provides an assessment of the current position of biofuels in Europe.... The requirement of biofuels has been witnessing an increase owing to its use with regard to the transport segment as a reaction to the issue of energy security as well as concerns regarding climate alterations....
7 Pages (1750 words) Term Paper
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us