Biofuels

Biofuels function as a substitute for fossil fuels and thus they are environmentally friendly. Biofuels substantially produce smaller greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to today much used Diesel or petrol. They are manufactured from various sources of biomass which come from agriculture, forests and, in addition, from trade and households uses.

Biodisel is the most common form of biofuel. It is an oily acid of methyl ester (FME) made of rape or sunflowers. Biodiesels can be used as pure form and an independent source of energy. Alternatively, they can be added to fossil Diesel. Australia is a leading manufacturer and exporter of biodiesels.

There is another form of producing an alternative to petrol or gasoline. This alternative is found in a substance called bioethanol. Bioethanol, like other biofuels, is also composed of biomass, mainly wheat, barley, turnip or sugar beets.

Cars can also work on fermentation gas. Fermentation gas originates in natural gas. Only after it is properly processed, can fermentation gas become available for consumers' use in gas stations.

Biofuels have clear advantages when it comes to preserving the environment. In addition, their political and economical benefits cannot be ignored. Fossil fuels have known price fluctuations in recent years, especially in times of political crises (wars, for example). Reducing the consumption of fossil fuels, furthermore, reduces the dependency on few oil exporting countries in the Middle East. It is particularly essential to European countries which are almost 100 per cent dependent on oil coming from the Persian Gulf.

For these reasons, the EU (European Union) has come up with clear stipulations regarding the use of biofuels for the member countries. There are guidelines according to which the transportation sector was supposed to allocate 2.5 per cent of its energy consumption to biofuels. By the year 2010, that sector will have to base 6 per cent of its energy consumption on biofuels.

In Australia, 4 per cent of energy consumption is diverted from fossil fuels to biofuels. In the year 2009, the percentage is expected to rise to 6 per cent, similar to the EU.

All in all, biofuels are definitely going to become more and more prevalent in the future. The rate in which they are used will significantly rise. Yet, policy makers must pay attention to one noticeable problem. Biofuels are made of agriculture products. Their use might come at the expanse of food sources. That is why these days scientists are working on a process that will allow to produce biofuels from plants that are not grown as a food source.
 

02.05.2008. 01:11