About Biofuels
Biofuels Can Make a Difference
Biofuels can fuel a significant percentage of world transportation. “With plausible technology developments, biofuels could supply 30% of global demand in an environmentally responsible manner without affecting food production,” says Steven Koonin, Chief Scientist for British Petroleum in London.
Biofuels can provide a major new revenue source. A biofuels breakthrough could allow farmers to grow "fuel crops" on land not suitable for food production. Likewise, it could help turn bio-residues and bio-wastes into valuable fuel. With a small-scale, distributed solution, those benefits would be available to virtually every country, regardless of size, climate or wealth.
Biofuels can help with climate change. For instance, biodiesel emits 78% less carbon dioxide than petroleum-based diesel. By 2050, biofuels could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.7 billion tons per year—more than 80% of today’s emissions. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004.)
Current Biofuels Approaches Are Not Good Enough
Efficiency. Most present-day processes use only a portion of the plant (for instance, only the corn kernels), wasting the energy stored in the rest of the plant, while greatly increasing the need for land, water and fertilizer. We must find new techniques that are more efficient.
Capital intensity. Most biofuels are produced in massive plants too expensive for the developing world. Such plants require feedstock to be transported hundreds of miles, which burns fuel and adds to emissions. We must find scalable solutions so farms and villages can process feedstocks grown nearby.
Food versus fuel. Most current methods convert a food crop to fuel (corn, sugar cane, soy, etc.). We must develop technologies to convert non-food crops that can be grown on marginal and arid land. And develop technologies to better convert bio-wastes and residues. Otherwise, biofuels could ultimately divert food and water from the mouths of the poor to the gas tanks of the rich.
Climate impacts. Cornstarch ethanol (the current approach using the kernels only) reduces greenhouse gases by 18-29%, but “cellulosic ethanol” (which uses more of the plant) could reduce them by 85%. (U.S. Department of Energy.) Better ways of making biofuels would offer important climate change benefits to the entire planet.
Innovations Are Needed
The potential of biofuels is immense, but only if we achieve major advances. Put simply, we need a breakthrough. The ideal biofuels solution should be:
- Scalable—suitable for small facilities in villages, cooperatives and neighborhoods; and deployable in large central plants where that is more appropriate.
- Highly efficient—garners the maximum amount of energy from feedstocks, so biofuels can become cost competitive with petroleum fuels.
- Compatible with current engines and infrastructure—able to work with today’s cars, trucks, pipelines and fueling stations. Otherwise, the innovations will sit on the shelf instead of migrating into the market.
- “Omnivorous”—capable of using many feedstocks, so the process can be adjusted to use local plant matter anywhere in the world.
- Clean and renewable—as good or better than current methods in terms of emissions, toxicity, waste streams, land use and water.