I want to understand more about biodiesel potentialities in the world market to solve the looming problem of the energy crisis in today’s world. Please enlighten me furthe on this matter.
One: Collecting used oil (from homes, McDonalds, School cafeterias…) and converting it into biodiesel. This is profitable, but there is not enough used oil in the whole world for the demand
Two: Producing biodiesel directly from oilseeds crops (canola and so). We would need a lot of space for this crops for the actual demand, so I think it is profitable, but it cannot replace oil.
FreedomLover June 22, 2009
3:59 am
First writer is correct. Another consideration when looking at Bio-Fuels is not just the energy costs, but the Water costs. Here in the Midwest, Water is constantly in shortage. Corn based Ethanol from irrigated land uses 2000 gallons of water just to grow one bushel of corn. And ethanol has LESS energy than gasoline. However, Soybeans that can be made into Bio-Diesel, only need about 300gallons of water per bushel…and Bio-Diesel actually has MORE energy/gallon than straight Diesel.
We can never produce enough Bio Fuels to offset oil imports in any significant way, but they can be used effectively to ‘Stretch’ our supplies for a while untill we can come up with a suitable alternative.
There is a GREAT article about Ethanol Production in the latest issue of Car and Driver magazine. It will answer alot of your questions about Bio-Fuels in relation to the energy issues today. BTW…There is NO CRISIS!!! Just temporary price spikes due to political instability in the world today.
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You have two methods for producing Biodiesel.
One: Collecting used oil (from homes, McDonalds, School cafeterias…) and converting it into biodiesel. This is profitable, but there is not enough used oil in the whole world for the demand
Two: Producing biodiesel directly from oilseeds crops (canola and so). We would need a lot of space for this crops for the actual demand, so I think it is profitable, but it cannot replace oil.
First writer is correct. Another consideration when looking at Bio-Fuels is not just the energy costs, but the Water costs. Here in the Midwest, Water is constantly in shortage. Corn based Ethanol from irrigated land uses 2000 gallons of water just to grow one bushel of corn. And ethanol has LESS energy than gasoline. However, Soybeans that can be made into Bio-Diesel, only need about 300gallons of water per bushel…and Bio-Diesel actually has MORE energy/gallon than straight Diesel.
We can never produce enough Bio Fuels to offset oil imports in any significant way, but they can be used effectively to ‘Stretch’ our supplies for a while untill we can come up with a suitable alternative.
There is a GREAT article about Ethanol Production in the latest issue of Car and Driver magazine. It will answer alot of your questions about Bio-Fuels in relation to the energy issues today. BTW…There is NO CRISIS!!! Just temporary price spikes due to political instability in the world today.