USING BIOFUELS TO COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE
Biofuels include organic matter that is continuously
produced and renewable (unlike fossil fuels which form much more
slowly) such as slurry or plants or their derivatives. Methane can
be extracted from animal slurry and used for energy and ethanol
can be received from the anaerobic breakdown of certain plants.
Both, although they both produce some carbon dioxide, are much more
environmentally friendly than traditional fossil fuels and in a
market of rising oil prices will soon be much cheaper. Slurry (often
from cows and cattle) is used worldwide in generators.
ethanol
Ethanol is very often used as car fuel in South
America now, mixed with petrol to make gasohol. This is better for
the environment than fossil fuels however less effective than other
completely non-polluting energy sources such as wind power. In some
countries such as Australia, ethanol is blended with existing petroleum
for use in motor vehicles. Biofuels even today are a major energy
source in many developing countries (namely in South America).
Thermal depolymerization
Thermal depolymerization (TDP) is an important
new process for the conversion of complex organic materials including
non oil based materials (for example waste products such as old
tires, offal, wood and plastic) into light crude oil. It has been
estimated that in the United States, agricultural waste alone could
be used with the process to produce 3.7 billion barrels of oil per
year. The USA currently consumes 7.5 billion barrels of oil per
year.
limited impact of biofuels on reducing global warming
Biofuels usually require a large area of land
to grow the necessary biomass. If biofuels were used extensively,
the huge areas of land required would impact negatively on the environment,
and global warming as well.
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