2008/04/22

Global Warming: Biofuels




We all are aware of bio fuels as products from living things and their metabolic wastes. There are many benefits associated with these useful fuels, the most important being their least contribution towards atmospheric pollution. These fuels offer significant advantage over fossil fuels, as they have nothing surplus to enhance the value of CO2 in air. The fact to support this is that these fuels are obtained from sources like plants, which already utilize significant amount of CO2 to grow and thus, equivalent amount is emitted back while these fuels burn.

Thus, these fuels are carbon-balanced fuels, as these burn with the policy of no gain no loss of CO2. On the other hand, the fossil fuels are known to be highest contributors towards CO2 level enhancement. These fuels, which take millions of years for their production, are burnt instantaneously to dish up human needs and thus, add worth to existing level of CO2. And, the result is increasing rate of greenhouse effect and ultimately, the rise in global warming.


Biofuels In Different Forms

The biofuels are available in the solid form, like wood and cow dung. In the liquid form, these fuels exist as ethanol. These different forms of biofuels are utilized for distinct purposes like producing electricity, fueling vehicles and other useful processes.

Liquid Biofuels Have It All

The liquid biofuels have discovered their wide applications in different fields. Consider the use of ethanol as a replacement for pollution causing fuels like diesel. Also known as biodiesel, due to its background based upon bio-products, this fuel has widely substituted diesel for various types of vehicles. There is no decrease in the efficiency of vehicle, and on top of that, we have in our hand an option for diminishing the pollution causing fuels. Ethanol has become the preferred choice of most of the people in countries like
USA.

Assessing The Friendly Nature Of Biofuels

The constant research in the field of biofuels has developed two theories on the environment friendly nature of these fuels. On one hand, these fuels hold significance in maintaining the level of CO2 in air, while there is a pitfall associated with it. The forests are constantly being cleared for obtaining lands to fuel the production of crops. Thus, we are loosing useful resources in the form of forests, which is helpful in absorbing CO2 from atmosphere in large quantities. Moreover, the expenses incurred on crops like corn are becoming unaffordable for various sections. Thus, we really need to evaluate these fuels for possessing environment friendly significance.