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Biomass: Renewable Energy

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Biomass is organic mass that is processed and used to create biofuel and biodiesel. The organic mass that is primarily used is corn, algae, and some other living organic materials.

Biofuel is fuel made from biomass. This fuel can be used in some combustible car engines. Biodiesel is fuel that is made from the biomass. This fuel can be used in many trucks to possibly replace regular diesel oil. Biofuels are interesting because they can run a combustible engine. Many car companies have started to produce more cars that can run on biofuel.

The major form of biofuel is ethanol, otherwise known as E85. Ethanol is primarily made from corn oil. The burning of biofuels produces less pollution into the environment. There is a debate on the pros and cons of ethanol. There are many indications that the burning of corn made ethanol produces the same amount of greenhouse gasses than regular oil. Furthermore, the price of food is becoming more expensive and some believe can be linked to the use of corn to make ethanol. There are other biomass products other than corn that can be used that do not emit the same greenhouse gasses. They are considered carbon neutral masses.

Biodiesel has more pros than biofuel. The advantage is that diesel car and truck engines generally do not need to be modified in order to run on biodiesel fuel.

Biofuel Solutions

There are exciting developments in the biofuel market. Biomass that is harvested and processed eco-consciously can dramatically reduce harmful greenhouse gasses. Bio fuel can be made from almost anything. For example, grasses and woody coppice are the best for making bio fuel because they are carbon neutral. Bio-fuels may be cheaper in the long run than normal crude oil. This means that there will be less dependence of foreign oil and cleaner air at the same time.

An intermediate gas that can help with the problem of higher crude oil is E10. E10 is a gasoline ethanol mix, ten percent being ethanol. This many not seem like a big difference, but everything is a step in the right direction. In the United States 80 percent of trucks run on diesel fuel. Biodiesel fuel is growing, and production is trying to be pushed to one billion barrel with a few years.

Biofuel Issues

Like most renewable and non-renewable energy there are pro and cons to everything. Biofuels have some issues to address. Ethanol is the main ingredient in many biofuels and biodiesels. The majority of ethanol today is made from corn, which poses an issue of sustainability. At the current rate there is not enough supply of corn for both food and fuel. The amount of corn production does not seem like it is nearly enough to meet the demands of what is expected in the future.

Additionally, one has to consider the environmental effects. Corn ethanol has been shown to be just as, if not more harmful to the environment than regular gasoline. The gas mileage for ethanol biofuel is less than normal gasoline, making it not cost competitive. Currently the majority of gas stations in the United States do not offer E85, ethanol fuel at the pump. These issues could cause some major problems in the development of biofuel as a legitimate contender for long term sustainability.