Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan02
It requires more energy to make the biofuels then get out of it, at best it is carbon neutral depending on the power source used to make the biofuel. There is not a commercially viable biofuel plant in the world and to convert the world automobiles to biofuel i have read that it would take the conversion of over 50% of our arable land, like theres not enough starving people in this world. Given those facts how can you possibly think that biofuels are a good idea?
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The following thread had a pretty good discussion on alt energy:
http://forum.calgarypuck.com/showthread.php?t=46514
As far as I understand it, there are two main sources of biofuel: corn/food-stuffs and cellulosic
1. Corn ethanol is a subsidy grab. I do believe in the study that concluded that it uses more energy than delivers (by T. Patzek). Corn also requires a large amount of fertilizer which is harsh on the soil.
2. Other food-stuff biofuel - canola oil is used by a firms like Milligan biotech to produce a powerful biodeisel. This makes more sense than corn. Even moreso, there is the Jatropha plant, that apparently is even better, as it does not have to take up valuable farming land in order to grow.
3. Cellulosic ethanol. This is taking woodchips, waste foodstuff, some even say garbage to make a biofuel. There are varying degrees to the success rate of each. The "ideal" cellulosic process is not yet completed, and may take a long time - however, differing processes in place now can make a difference.
So leaving Corn Ethanol out of it, I think Biofuel makes sense. However, governments have it wrong. It should not be billed as a REPLACEMENT for oil. Hell no. However, it is another form of energy we should add into the mix. Wood flooring companies should be buying the small plants to attach to their factory so they can use their waste for more energy to reduce their load on the grid. See Dynamotive's plant at West Lorne
As for commercially viable - almost any source is viable depending on the government's incentive system. Exploreco gas wouldn't be so viable without the exploration tax credits, so the same goes for the other sources - the problem is that the govt is slow to bring in the dynamic systems we would need for fear of pissing off other groups of voters.