Renewable energy sources or those that do not pollute are developing more and more. We must bear in mind that modifying the current energy model is complicated overnight. Therefore, we are immersed in what is known as an energy transition. One of the elements that are helping to pollute less are the biofuels. Nothing more than the name, we can intuit what this entails. However, many people do not know what they are made of, what they are for or what advantages they offer over conventional fuels.
Do you want to know more about biofuels? In this article we explain everything in detail.
What are biofuels
Biofuels are also known as biofuels. It is a compound formed by mixtures of substances with organic origin. These substances are used to obtain energy. It is considered renewable or a cleaner energy since the substances come from biomass. Therefore, this organic matter that originates and accumulates is renewable over time.
There is a controversy with the balance of CO2 emitted and CO2 absorbed by these biofuels. As the substances that form this compound are organic, during their life they have had an absorption of CO2 during the photosynthesis process. Once they have finished their life, they are used to make these fuels. Unlike other renewable energy sources such as solar, during the use of this biofuel, carbon dioxide emissions are also generated. What is counted is the balance between CO2 that has been emitted during its use against the CO2 that has been absorbed in the production of organic materials (plantations).
Until today, it is stated that the balance is positive, so that less CO2 is emitted during its use than during its formation.
The advantage of these biofuels is that they can replace a large part of fossil fuel consumption. With this, the impact produced by them is reduced and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced globally. Although the emissions during the use of both fuels is the same, during the oil formation process CO2 is not absorbed as happens with biofuels.
What are they made of
Now we are going to get to know the plant species with which biofuels can be produced. Many people think that it is a waste of land, an overexploitation of soils in agriculture and a waste of food. What you have to think about is that food is used. What is used for the formation of biofuel are the remains of food.
Among the plant species that are used we have:
- The soy
- The corn
- Sugarcane
- Cassava
- Sunflower
- Eucalyptus
- The Palm trees
- The pines
- Algae oil
These biofuels can be classified into three large groups, depending on the raw material that has been used in the manufacturing process. There are first, second and third generation biofuels. We are going to analyze each of them:
- First generation biofuels. These are those that have an origin in agricultural crops that are used to obtain food products for human consumption. These production systems are the simplest, since the remains of the production of these foods are used. In addition, they are cheaper. However, it has some limitations that can jeopardize food supply and biodiversity by reducing planting species in ecosystems.
- Second generation biofuels. This type of fuel arises from the high demand for biofuels that there is. It is obtained from the biomass that is produced in forest environments. These materials are lignocellulosic and their natural is woody or fibrous. They are biofuels that continue to save CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, but are more expensive and complicated to produce than the first generation. They are produced from products that are not intended for food or that are waste.
- Third generation biofuels. They come from biomass that is not intended for human consumption or waste. In this category we include microalgae. Molecular biology techniques are used in its production and microalgae can be generated for the subsequent production of biofuel.
Types of biofuels
We are going to analyze the different biofuels that are best known and used by everyone:
- Bioethanol. It is the one that is generated through the alcoholic fermentation of the sugars present in some plant species. Among these species we can find sugar cane, beets or some cereals.
- Biodiesel. This is produced from vegetable oils among which we have soybean, canola, rapeseed and jatropha oil. These species are cultivated to be used as biodiesel.
- Biopropanol or biobutanol. These two types are less popular, but research is being done on them as they can also serve as frequently used as the previous two.
Advantages and disadvantages
Although they may appear to be salvation, they have both advantages and disadvantages. We list the advantages:
- The cost will be less than that of gasoline or diesel. Raw materials are practically nil as they are waste.
- It generates employment at the local level.
- They reduce emissions.
- More efficient production processes and less pollution.
- It has a higher level of security in its handling.
But not everything can be advantages. We list the disadvantages:
- The use of nitrogen fertilizers for crop production increases nitrogen oxide emissions and pollutes water and soil.
- They provide less energy than conventional ones.
- There is loss of forest areas for crop production and these species are CO2 consumers.
- For the production of some biofuels, fossil fuels are used, which increases emissions even more.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about these alternative energies that are quite controversial about whether they are really sustainable or not and their use should increase in society.