The Rest of the World and Bio Diesel Fuel
Posted by Lisa Carey
In the U.S. there are crops grown specifically for bio fuels including corn, sunflower and soybeans. In Europe, flaxseed and rapeseed are used for cleaner biodiesel fuels. What about the rest of the world? Are other countries interested in using biodiesel fuels? If so, what type of biomass products would they use?
With world-wide demands for oil rising, oil prices at an all time high and the limited refining capability of diesel, it is no surprise that diesel fuel prices in the United States are higher than those of gasoline. Biofuels; fuels derived from biomass or recently living organisms, are getting a harder look than ever before. Biodiesels are much more eco-friendly and can reduce dependence on oil imports.
It is a common misconception that biodiesels are only made from soybeans or corn. In the U.S. there are crops grown specifically for bio fuels including corn, sunflower and soybeans. In Europe, flaxseed and rapeseed are used for cleaner biodiesels. What about the rest of the world? Are other countries interested in using biodiesels? If so, what type of biomass products would they use?
What in the world in Jatropha?
You may never have heard of jatropha but in Africa jatropha is well regarded for having the highest energy payback of any biofuel. In his book “Fighting the Desert & Creating Wealth,” author Keith Parsons elaborates on the potential of jatropha as a biofuel. Jatropha is a perennial plant. It yields plants for decades and can grow in arid conditions even without irrigation. Jatropha is projected to offer commercial yields of up to 20,000 gallons per acre annually. In addition to the potential for creating a cleaner and greener fuel, jatropha is also bringing economic investment to the African economy. Africa is embarking on a journey to try to mitigate the effects of climate change. Zimbabwe’s first biodiesel plant is considered a major milestone for Africa in embracing renewable energy.
Is South America jumping on the green wagon?
South America began doing biodiesel research in the 1970′s following the oil crisis. As it did in many other places, the research was cancelled once the crisis was over. Interest in biodiesel has been renewed in South America but certainly is stronger in some countries than others. Brazil has a major transit market and is concerned about their dependence on petroleum imports. Brazil also has a serious pollution problem.
Recently Brazil instituted the “green fleet” program, which requires fleets to operate on environmentally friendly fuels. Currently gasoline sold in Brazil does contain 23% alcohol by volume produced from sugar cane. Is there potential for homegrown biomass for biodiesel in Brazil? Yes. Along with the United States, Brazil and Argentina are the world’s largest soybean producers.
What’s growing green in Asia?
In India and other developing countries, jatropha and also the India beech (pongamia pinnata) are being heralded for their drought tolerance and ability to grow in marginal soil. This leaves premium soil open for food production and reduces the demand on the water supply. India Biofuels Corporation, a commercial biofuels company, working in partnership with the Indian National Mission on Biofuels, is committing to bring more than one million hectares of rural wasteland that is unused for food production to a full-scale commercial biofuels production in the next decade. Using biodiesels could reduce India’s greenhouse gas emissions by over 75%.
Pond scum may be more attractive than ever before.
Perhaps the most promising biodiesel fuel the world over is algae, also known as pond scum. Under certain conditions, algae can double in weight up to four times a day. Since it grows in water, algae production would not displace other crops. As an added benefit algae takes in CO2, a major greenhouse gas while it grows. It has been estimated that there could be commercial yields of up to 20,000 gallons of oil per acre annually. The great news is that algae can be grown anywhere in the world that there is water so algae may join soybeans and corn as leading biodiesels in the future.
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2 Responses to “The Rest of the World and Bio Diesel Fuel”
Edgar Mesquita says:
I think Biofuels are great, but better than that in a non necessity to use them. Sprawl and long commuting should simply be banished from our societies ( even better taxed).
If you go to the Amazon forest ( or where it once stood) and see for miles only soybeans for cattle feeding and Biofuels, you start to see why biofuels and meat are not that “green”.
Use your bike as much as possible, and plant part your food, have chikens and rabbits as pets, then you don’t need to go to the supermarket so often!
Amazing! It seems that we are ignoring the highest potential solution for the replacement of the use of oil on the planet. It is a wonder why the US Government is not exploiting this solution with the massive overspending it is currently undertaking. This would be a much more productive use of the funds that they want to sink into Obamacare.