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Posts Tagged ‘ethanol biofuel’

In the Midwest, you will come across ethanol biofuel factories, which could mean that ethanol is still considered a possible alternative for energy production. The production of ethanol is a part of the movement towards energy independence. I think the main rationale why ethanol production is not a universal thing is the still-abundant resources of petroleum commodities. However, it won’t be long before we really start appreciating the ethanol production alternative, especially with the ever-increasing prices of fuel products.

Even though the ethanol biofuel industry is on its way up, there is plenty of room for improvements in terms of competence and know-how. Whenever there are discussions on which alternative energy resource can best compete with petroleum products, the theory of ethanol production comes up. The idea is to transform farm lands into ethanol production systems, and if this happens, there’s a chance that the need for petroleum products will diminish.

But several sectors are still cynical of the feasibility of this strategy. Here is the reason. Ethanol production and the manufacture of ethanol biofuel have led to competition in the grain market. This means the rates of food commodities are increasing because some grain farms are being dedicated to ethanol production. In other words, we may have to give up being sustainable in terms of food manufacture and supply just to be able to find ways to help the ethanol biofuel industry.

The most frequent objection you will hear from detractors of biofuels is that ethanol does not make the same amount of combustive power compared to oil. Ethanol biofuel does not supply the same amount of serviceable energy.

Another thing to consider is the expenditure of actually producing ethanol in massive volumes. It produces half the energy created from diesel or petrol, but the production expenses are similar. .

On the other hand, if more effort can be placed on looking for means to manufacture energy from farming waste, then the conditions for cost effectiveness will be satisfied. Nowadays, individuals who give thought to the plan of energy production from ethanol and ethanol biofuel have no choice but to think about the benefits and disadvantages of using ethanol for energy production.

Ethanol production plants have been built in the Midwest and have also been promoted heavily through Federal subsidies.  Is ethanol biofuel a significant contender in alternative energy?

That ethanol is benefiting our nation’s quest toward energy independence, in the way that it is used today, is a hard argument.  Why are we using farm lands to make fuel for automobiles when it is not the most practical thing to do?  There is still plenty of oil in the Earth, and plenty of room for improvements in efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

Ethanol production is driving up the price of foods because of the increased competition for grains.  Farmers should be able to make a good living off their land, there is no question of that.  That the gasoline market is competing with our fundamental food production capability, however, brings a good argument.

A disadvantage of ethanol is its heat content is lower than other fuels.  It’s energy density is only 60% of gasoline (HHV = 12,700 BTU/lb vs. 20,500 BTU/lb), and so gallon for gallon doesn’t deliver the same amount of useful energy.  One could envision ethanol being used to heat homes and make hot water, but that is not currently it’s marketed use.

Maybe the final blow against ethanol biofuel is that, unlike solar power, wind power, and other alternative energy systems, it is not tapping a source of free energy (unless it is derived from agricultural waste).  When you factor in the energy used to plant, harvest, and refine the grains into ethanol it is an expensive fuel.  It has almost half the energy of diesel or gasoline, and similar amounts of production costs.

The methods being used to produce ethanol today is not generating alternative energy that lives up to the publicity it has received.  The use of advanced technologies to generate ethanol biofuel from agricultural wastes could prove to be very useful in the future.  It falls in the realm of alternative energy, but in the current way used it is not tapping a free source of energy.