Biofuels: Reviewing Uses, Economic Impact and Environmental Goals

This report provides an overview of biofuel, highlighting its potential as a more economical and environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels. It addresses the controversies surrounding the energy required for biofuel production, examining liquid biofuels like bioethanol and biodiesel, as well as gaseous biofuels such as biogas and syngas. The report discusses the impact of biofuel production on food supply, emphasizing the shift towards non-food substances like animal waste and microalgae for sustainable production. It also explores the environmental advantages of biofuels, including reduced pollution, lower CO2 emissions, and the potential for recycling organic waste, ultimately concluding that despite limitations, biofuels offer a more sustainable energy source compared to fossil fuels, warranting further adoption and research.

Running head: BIOFUEL
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Overview of biofuel
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Biofuel
Introduction
Biofuel has been widely used in place of fossil fuels because it is more economical and
environmental friendly compared to fossil fuels. Biofuels were initially made from edible crops
especially corn, but these are restricted in their aptitude to accomplish goals for economic growth
and reduction of climatic change. However, recent research shows that the use biofuels from
non-food substances like animal waste and microalgae offer better opportunities to obtaining
these goals in this paper an attempt to review the various uses of biofuels and their impact to
attaining the economic and environmental goals on sustainable and renewable sources of energy.
Energy
A recent analysis of the amount of energy required to produce biofuels has raised
controversies about whether the biofuels achieve their primary target on economic effectiveness.
Whether or not a form of biofuel provides enough power that supplements its consumption
during production depends mainly on the uses of the biofuel and its sources. To look into this
one needs to look at the two primary forms of biofuels produced in modern technology.
Liquid biofuels include bioethanol and biodiesel. Bioethanol is produced commercially
from lignocellulosic materials, which yield more than 25% of the energy used in its production
(Mata, Martins and Caetano, 2010). Bioethanol is used primarily as petrol substitute for vehicle
engines. Recently, there is the use of biodiesel from oil seeds and microalgae in standard diesel
engines where it is can be used alone or blended with diesel from fossil fuels. Gaseous biofuels
include biogas and syngas. The production of syngas is less cost-effective hence is rarely

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practiced. Commercial production of biogas from organic waste materials by anaerobic synthesis
is common.
Security of supply
Though second-generation production of biofuels is mainly from non-food substances,
there are concerns on the effect of production of biofuels on food supply. Studies were done
recently indicate that there can supply more than 28% of biofuels to supplement fossil fuels
without adversely affecting food supply (Weiping and Buhain, 2015). The increase in the
availability of biofuels has enhanced the reliability of biofuels adding to the fact that they are
renewable and less toxic to the environment. Interests about petroleum supplies, prices and
negative environmental impacts of fossil fuels have raised the search for renewable sources of
energy. Though biofuels have their limitations, considering that they create a better living
environment are readily available makes them a better alternative.
Environment
The first generation production of biofuels raised controversies on whether the biofuels
were a better alternative or not as it led to competition on land for agricultural use and reduction
of the food supply. Later in the second generation, that involves the use of biomass and
microalgae for the production have proved more environmentally friendly and sustainable
(Carriquiry and Timilsina, 2011). It plays an essential role in the argument that biofuels have
reduced pollution and led to the production of more energy.
Feedstocks
Concerns on the growing need for less harmful fuels have raised a higher demand for
biofuels, which are renewable. There is a need to check and ensure that the sources of these

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biofuels are sustainable without leading to higher costs or less energy production (Erisman and
Bleeker, 2010). There is also a need to ensure that the food supply is not affected during the
process hence the introduction of biofuels production using non-food substances.
Sustainability
The fact that biofuels provide environmental cost make them more beneficial than fossil
fuels. The ecological impacts of biofuels subsidize their prices below that of the fossil fuels. This
positive impact on the environment makes biofuels more sustainable than fossil fuels. The degree
at which biofuels reduce pollution and improve life cycle through the nitrogen fixation makes it a
more sustainable source of energy.
Recycling
By the use of organic waste to produce energy, one does not waste heat in the disposal
mechanism, but instead, they generate more power. Recycling of organic waste means less
pollution — bioethanol and biodiesel, which yield 25% more power than that, used in its
production (Tyner, 2008).
Reduction of CO2 emissions
The use of biofuels has reduced emission of harmful greenhouse gases, which causes
global warming. Biofuels preferably emit nitrous oxide (N2O) which has less impact since it is a
reverse process from the nitrogen taken in during the production of the biofuels. Research shows
that biodiesel releases 14% less CO2 than diesel (Hill and Tiffany, 2006.). From this fact biofuels
are environmentally friendly than fossil fuels.

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Conclusion
The use of other sources of energy has with time extrapolated in the power industry. That
has diminished the use of biodiesel energy. Due to that, many undesirable effects from the power
production industry have been experienced in the in the environment, leading to its deterioration.
It is, therefore, crucial to retain and even adopt more of the biodiesel system where it can be
primarily applied.

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References
1. Carriquiry, M.A., Du, X. and Timilsina, G.R., 2011. Second generation biofuels:
Economics and policies. Energy Policy, 39(7), pp.4222-4234.
2. Erisman, J.W., van Grinsven, H., Leip, A., Mosier, A. and Bleeker, A., 2010. Nitrogen
and biofuels an overview of the current state of knowledge. Nutrient Cycling in
Agroecosystems, 86(2), pp.211-223.
3. Guo, M., Song, W. and Buhain, J., 2015. Bioenergy and biofuels: History, status, and
perspective. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 42, pp.712-725.
4. Hill, J., Nelson, E., Tilman, D., Polasky, S. and Tiffany, D., 2006. Environmental,
economic, and energetic costs and benefits of biodiesel and ethanol biofuels. Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences, 103(30), pp.11206-11210.
5. Mata, T.M., Martins, A.A. and Caetano, N.S., 2010. Microalgae for biodiesel production
and other applications: a review. Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 14(1),
pp.217-232.
6. Tyner, W.E., 2008. The US ethanol and biofuels boom: Its origins, current status, and
prospects. AIBS Bulletin, 58(7), pp.646-653.