Brandon McMurphy, Megan Gershey, Kate Widmer , Seth Johnston

Objectives: Objectives: 1. Inform class of likelihood of biodiesel

being a viable alternative fuel in the future.

2. Where can biodiesel be developed and deployed?

3. What are some problems encountered when using biodiesel?

4. Does our government support the use of biodiesel?

5. Discuss the sustainability of biodiesel.

Does Ethanol Have Does Ethanol Have Potential?Potential? World ethanol-based energy production has tripled. Countries are currently using ethanol to power a large

proportion of their vehicles.  Ethanol may, however, use more energy during

creation then it gives back in the long run.

Ethanol may have the potential to provide a significant energy demand in the future, but has many drawbacks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel#Criticism_and_controversy

Corn-based Ethanol:Corn-based Ethanol:

In the United States most ethanol is made from corn. Corn is an easier and less expensive way to produce ethanol. Provides 26 percent more energy than it requires for production.

Concerns about its production and use:

Requires a large amount of arable land required for crops. Consumes a food crop to produce fuel. Highly dependent upon subsidies. May not actually reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. 5 to 6 times less efficient than sugarcane.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/world/americas/23iht-ethanol.4.13918750.html?_r=1

http://www.livescience.com/environment/070418_ethanol_main.html

Cellulosic Ethanol:Cellulosic Ethanol:

Cellulosic Ethanol is biofuel derived from leaves and stems. Has the potential to become a competitive energy resource. Contained in nearly every free-growing plant and tree, and is in

meadows, forests, and fields all over the world. Provides 80 percent more energy. Reduces GHG emission by 85 percent over reformulated

gasoline.

Concerns about its production and use:

Currently requires extra financial support to develop. About $2.20 per gallon to produce cellulosic ethanol.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/world/americas/23iht-ethanol.4.13918750.html?_r=1

http://www.livescience.com/environment/070418_ethanol_main.html

Does Biodiesel Have Does Biodiesel Have Potential?Potential? Biodiesel is meant to be used in standard diesel engines. Usually made from plant oils or animal fat through a series of

chemical reactions. Increasing use in the United States. Non-toxic and renewable.

Concerns about its production and use:

It requires twice the land area of the US to meet current heating and transportation needs.

Vast amounts of land and fresh water are needed to produce enough oil to completely replace fossil fuel usage.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/biodiesel2.htm

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/27/MNG1VDF6EM1.DTL

Current U.S. biodiesel production is primarily from oil from soybeans or from recycled restaurant cooking oil.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-efficiency/alternative-fuels/biodiesel2.htm

Does our group agree Does our group agree with the evidence?with the evidence?

YES!!!!!!!

Development:Development:

Ethanol is produced efficiently where there is a supply of organic material.

Corn-based ethanol can be produced anywhere there are given crops.

Popular in Midwestern America.

Biodiesel is better developed close to the source of the oil. Cities and towns, by restaurants.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/06/27/MNG1VDF6EM1.DTL

Biodiesel runs in diesel Biodiesel runs in diesel enginesenginesNo needed modifications to regular

diesel engine in order to run on biodiesel.

Manufacturer’s warrantiesFuel FiltersBiodiesel can degrade rubberUnsure of long term effects of running

B100 on diesel engines

Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems• Ethanol

• corn-based• green house gases

emitted• large scale farming

• cellulosic• “net energy”

• Biodiesel• green house gases

emitted• increases

biodegration rate

Sustainability Sustainability • Ethanol• corn-based

• obtained from • common crops:

potatoes, sugar cane, maize

• ethylene, acetylene• calcium carbide, coal,

oil gas

• cellulosic• cellulose products

• plant cell walls

• Biodiesel• obtained from

chemically reacting lipids

• vegetable oil• tallow (animal fat)• alcohol

SustainabilitySustainabilityEthanol• United States and Brazil (in 2008) were the top ethanol fuel

producers accounting for 89% of the worlds production of 17.33 billions gallons

• University of Minnesota researchers say that if all corn grown in the U.S. were used to make ethanol it would replace 12% of current U.S. gasoline consumption.

Biodiesel• From 2002-2006 the biodiesel production rate has increased

40%• The total demand for diesel in the US and Europe is

approximately 490 million tonnes (147 billion gallons). World production level of vegetable oil in 2005/06 was about 110 million tonnes, with about 34 million tonnes each of palm oil and soybean oil.

Laws and Regulations:Laws and Regulations: April 23, 2009: California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved a ruling that

will go into effect January 1 of 2011. The California Low-Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) limits carbon intensity in fuels used for transportation to help decrease CO12 emissions to overall reduce the carbon footprint of transportation

May 5, 2009: President Obama signed a directive to help advance biofuels and to improve the way they're commercialized.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Goldemberg_2008_Ethanol_productivity_in_Brazil_1754-6834-1-6-4_Fig_4.jpg

Policies Promoting EthanolPolicies Promoting EthanolThe Energy Policy Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-58)

established a renewable fuels standard. This standard requires the use of 4.0 billion gallons of renewable fuels in 2006, increasing each year to 7.5 billion gallons in 2012.

Most of this requirement will be met with ethanol.

http://www.khoslaventures.com/presentations/Fuel_Ethanol.pdf

Technical ImpedimentsTechnical ImpedimentsLarge-Scale farming is necessary to produce

substantial amounts of ethanol from crops such as corn and sugar cane.

This means much more land would need to be cultivated and farming this land would cause a decline in soil fertility, a decrease in water availability and quality, an increase in erosion, and an increase in the use of pesticides and fertilizers.

Since land able to support crop growth in the US is fairly limited and most of it is already used to grow food crops many farmers would switch over to growing crops solely for making ethanol.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethanol_fuel#Criticism_and_controversy

Land ConversionLand ConversionConverting forests to crop land may be

necessary to maximize ethanol production.Much of the forest land in the US would not

be able to support crops.However, deforestation of land that is able to

support crops would increase global warming pollution and destroy animal habitats.

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/technologies_and_fuels/biofuels/the-truth-about-ethanol.html

Problem with EnginesProblem with EnginesAll gasoline-burning cars and trucks can use

a blend of 10 percent ethanol without any engine modifications.

E10 can cause an increase in smog-forming pollution compared to pure gasoline.

Gasoline specifications must be modified to burn clean on E10 so that that air quality is not reduced.

Flexible-fuel vehicles can run on a fuel blend of up E85.

http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_vehicles/technologies_and_fuels/biofuels/the-truth-about-ethanol.html

Cellulosic Ethanol Cellulosic Ethanol ProblemsProblemsPlanting fields solely of

switchgrass has negative effects on wildlife habitats.

It would be better on wildlife habitats if we were able to plant a mixture of different grass which could be converted to ethanol, however, the technology to do so has not yet been developed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulosic_ethanol#Environmental_effects:_corn-based_vs._grass-based

ConclusionConclusion

In conclusion we feel that biodiesel is a good supplemental source of fuel but will not be able to fill the demands fully due to its disadvantages.