According to the NewEnergyReport, a full life cycle study (made in the US) of soybean diesel and corn grain ethanol concludes that biodiesel has a higher net energy benefit than corn ethanol and has less detrimental impact on the environement. It also refutes the claim of some sectors that say biofuels take more energy to produce therefore negating the economics of their use. There is a net recovery of 93% energy from biodiesel and 25% from ethanol…
The study, which will be released in the July 11 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, warns however that even with the allocation of all corn and soybean production in the US for conversion to biofuel, it will still fall short of replacing petroleum in meeting the energy demands of the country (About 12% of the total demand for ethanol and 6% for diesel.) Biodiesel and Ethanol importation will therefore be needed.
I don’t even want to think about the price spike this will cause in corn and soybean.
The best way is to look for alternative biofuel sources which will not compete with current food stocks…and to plant them in marginal land so that we don’t take away land that is to be used for food production. It shouldn’t boil down to a debate of what we should sacrifice : Food or Energy?
I think this is where Jatropha Curcas(Biodiesel) and Jerusalem Artichoke(Ethanol) should come in… both plants can grow in marginal land… however, I also believe that car manufacturer’s have to do their part, like building more fuel efficient engines and preparing existing cars for biofuels…
Article here, (released as a press release)
Category: Biodiesel, Energy News, Bioethanol
October 1st, 2006 at 6:03 am
Marc, I am the convenor of the Davao Green EGALES (Energy Alternatives for Green Living & Economic Sustainability). We meet regularly at the Eng’g Dept of ADDU. We are currently helping local inventors come up with models for alternative energy resources. You are most welcome to join the group.
October 2nd, 2006 at 2:08 am
Thanks Sir Pete!, I’ll take you up on that offer and join you in the meetings…