Are Bio-fuels, like ethanol, bad for the environment?

Question

Ethanol contains less carbon per molecule than gasoline, but it still is composed of carbon (and oxygen and hydrogen). Does this mean that by combusting biofuels we will still be releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? If this is the case, do people think we should consider this our "long term solution" to the energy problem?

Answer 1

Yes, the burning of any hydrocarbon will release carbon dioxide and possibly carbon monoxide as well. The thing that makes ethanol nice is that it's much more environmentally friendly than gasoline. This could be our long term solution not because of its environmental impact but because, unlike gasoline, it's a renewable resource. Personally, I think hydrogen fuel cells will be our ultimate goal. No emissions, simple, electric engine design. The only trick is mass producing hydrogen.

Answer 2

Biofuels, like fossil fuels, consist mainly of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. When they burn, one product (or a by-product) is carbon dioxide. Released into the atmosphere, carbon dioxide would add to the greenhouse effect that many of us are so concerned with. Biofuels come from living or recently dead organisms. Fossil fuels also come from dead organisms but these died a long long time ago. I think the result will be same as burning fossil fuels. The chemical contents should be almost the same.... However... to obtain biofuels, we may have to plant more trees (such as oil palm). To get more palm oil, we will have to plant more palm trees. More trees mean more carbon dioxide will be absorbed from the atmosphere. This would help reduce the problem of too much carbon dioxide in the air and hence, help minimize the greenhouse effect. But wait! To plant more palm trees, we need more land. Where do we get the land? We clear the forests to plant the palm trees. Yup, in the first place there WERE already trees in the forest. They were already taking carbon dioxide from the atmosphere... My opinion on the long term solution to the energy problem: support the scientists/people /governments who are hastening the process of extracting hydrogen from water cheaply (we have plenty of water on this earth - > 70% of it!)

Answer 3

It is good for the environment because all the carbon in ethanol came from growing plants, and will eventually return to growing plants, so there will be no net contribution of carbon to the atmosphere. However, there are a number of caveats:
- Ethanol, as presently produced in the US, requires more energy to make than it yields in combustion.
- The notion that carbon (specifically, carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere is hazardous is, although popular, not yet in the realm of established science. The theory is based on computer simulation of mathematical models using incomplete data, and as anyone who has ever tried using computer models to forecast the weather knows, these are problematic.

Answer 4

We are looking in to this as a solution to the problem of America being dependent on foreign oil.As to that it's brilliant.

However your raising questions about the O-Zone friendliness of it and to that I would have to say It's still going to be an air pollutant. Apparently we have shifted our focus off the issue of the O-zone due to current events but as it doe's have less carbon I call it a step in the right direction.

Answer 5

Yes. Ethanol is a greenhouse gas. But the problem is not harming the environment. the problem is energy. Ethanol is an energy source. It is only a temporary partial answer to that problem.

;-D Go hydrogen!

Answer 6

first of all bio-fuels are meant to replace the non renewable sources
so that source for fuel is easily available
as far as environvent is concerned it gets pollution due to co2 every time any hydrocarbon is burnt
so this problem can be overcome only by using resouces without carbon
like if we use energy fro water or from sun

Answer 7

Biodeisel is carbon dioxide neutral – so sustainable.

This is relatively expensive to produce and the algae production is still very experimental (the loophole to the landmass argument).

Answer 8

hi....here the question is about renewable sources of the energy...that is what is our problem . looking at this i feel we can compromise onthe little bit of pollution it ramifies with the energy freedom that it can establish.