From this video I was able to further my knowledge as it mentions that biofuels are categorised into three groups based on the feedstock used to feed them:
- First generation = food crops
- i.e. sugar cain, corn --> ethanol
- i.e. soya bean, canola --> biodiesel
- Second generations = cellulosic materials
- i.e wood, grasses and inedible plants of plants
- Third generation = lipid production of algae
* Additionally, advanced biofuels is a new field of study that involves using waste, animal fat or used cooking oil to produce liquid fuels.
Student Energy,. (2015). Biofuels 101. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/ZGmwtDffc74
Advantages:
- stabilises the cost of oils/petrol; therefore relieving the pressure on consumers as the oil market has a competitor
- could help to reduce poverty in certain countries by stabilising petrol prices and increasing job opportunities
- as bioethanol and biodiesel come from plants, if we are using arable land for crops to create biofuels, we are reducing the available arable land for food production and contribute to a food shortage (fuel versus food debate)
- engines will need modifications to used these biofuels and therefore could become costly
- massive deforestation occurs for land space, therefore allowing greenhouse gases to increase adding to global warming
Carbon neutrality is controversial; the calculations required in determining whether the carbon used in the process of biofuel production is less than the carbon absorbed by the crops during growth is complex and requires further research. Therefore, stating that biofuels is a great alternative to fossil fuels as it won’t add carbon emissions, is incorrect.
The Fuse School - Global Education,. (2015). Economic, environmental and social effect of biofuels | chemistry for all | the fuse school. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/UfZK727QMko