The Depletion of Resources and Future of Biofuel

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Biofuels can be divided by generation. The first generation was produced from food raw, like ethanol from sugar cane or biodiesel from oils. Second generation raw was from nonfood biomass like straw or wood chips. The third and fourth generations are based on production of fuel from micro algae and bacteria.

Biofuel also has disadvantages. As for now, first and second generation fuels are more popular, the problem of food shortage rises. The cultivation of raw materials for biofuels gives a big burden on agriculture. Sometimes because of unexpected drought and heat most of the

crop dies. At the same time if we give percentage of the crop to the production of biofuels it will lead to shortage of food and hunger. But the biofuel technologies continue to develop and next generations do not use food or plants as a raw material, instead they try to genetically modify bacteria. Today, science already works on development of fifth generation biofuels.

Due to the increase in the number of automobiles there is a problem of air pollution by exhaust gases of internal combustion engines and global warming. CO2 emissions are rising, and if this continues, the global climate changes and the natural disasters will occur in the coming decades. Currently cars cause 40-60% of the air pollution. Biofuels do not increase the number of carbon dioxide, since during burning CO2 stands out as much as it was absorbed by plants during their growth. That is why biofuel decreases negative impact on ecology compared to petroleum.

Another example, there is dimethyl ether. Dimethyl ether is clean sulfur-free biofuel; the content of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas is 90% less than that of gasoline. The use of dimethyl ether does not require special filters, but requires conversion of power systems and engine ignition.

Some world-known companies by this time understood the importance and perspective of biofuel. Audi is fighting against global warming. It has long term plan to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide. Today, they use gasoline for 90%, but in 20 years company plans to drop the percentage of gasoline to 80% and use 20% of biofuel. Audi develop biofuel engines as well as their competitors of the Ford. Since 2001 company has released more than 50 thousand cars

Ford Focus FFV and Volvo S40 / V50 Flexi Fuel, with motors adapted to run on bio-ethanol mixture E-85.[9]

Company Total is committed to developing new energies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Now their jet fuel has been included in global industry specifications and company is marketing this breakthrough solution to airlines around the world. The large-scale adoption of biofuels by airlines is a main goal for the coming years.[10]Citroen specialists developed an engine that runs on a mixture of diesel fuel and vegetable oil. This mixture can reduce CO2 emissions by 30 per cent.[11]

Practice of famous companies show that biofuel do less harm to ecology in comparison with gasoline and other fuel.

Third reason proves that biofuel, is the future fuel for vehicles because of its safety. Bioenergetics uses well-established technology with a low probability of disconnection, which considered being reliable. It does not have the risk for security, such as nuclear power. Bioenergy factories run on fuel which is a waste or by-product of low cost and they have no particular risk.

For today, more than 60 countries have developed policies in the area of biofuels. Taking into account the rising cost of oil, some biofuels remain competitive even in the absence of government support. The sector will develop and increase in demand in future. There are no worthy competitors among alternatives fuel for biofuel. The initial stage of the introduction of

biofuels by large companies and the leading countries also proves that biofuel industry will play a big role in the future.

For more than a third of the world population (2.4 billion people.) biomass is the source of energy. For these communities, the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly ways to use biomass may be a great chance to facilitate agriculture and expand income-generating opportunities.

The number of reasons and the evidence above prove that biofuel will become future fuel for vehicles. It has advantages and disadvantages, the main idea is to keep the balance and control the development – minimize negatives and maximize positive impact of this trend.

Resources:

1. http://www.ereport.ru/articles/commod/oilcount.htm

2. http://www.ereport.ru/graph/oil.htm

3. http://www.ru.total.com

4. http://www.journal.esco.co.ua

5. http://www.greenevolution.ru

6. http://www.wikipedia.org

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