Over the past couple of decades, extensive research has been conducted on the creation of alternative fuel options. One segment of the alternative fuel market that has been gaining popularity recently is biofuel. Biofuels are considered to be any liquid fuel that originates from renewable plant materials. Unlike gasoline that is refined from limited crude oil supplies, biofuel can be created from a number of plentiful organic sources. Some say that this prospect is too good to be true and the technology has been hotly debated.
One of the first major breakthroughs in biofuel technology was developed using corn and wheat products. This created controversy amongst many different circles in the scientific community. Critics have claimed that crops that are used in the production of food should not be turned in to fuel because of the potential damage it could cause on the food supply. Researchers have since focused more on creating fuels derived from plants that typically have no real value in other industries.
Most biofuel studies in the United States are now being conducted using switchgrass and Miscanthus giganteus. These perennial grasses can grow rapidly in a large variety of climates and don’t require extremely fertile soil conditions. Despite avoiding the use of edible materials, the latest controversy stems from determining where massive quantities of these plants can be grown. It will require very large farm areas in order to provide a significant portion of the world’s fuel supply. Many people fear that large areas of forest may be cut down to accommodate growth of biofuel materials.
Harvesting crops and converting them to useable fuel also has an adverse effect on the surrounding environment. Since most biofuels burn similarly to the fossil fuels that are currently in use, the question of how to curb vehicle emissions still looms.
Biofuels are becoming extremely attractive to developing nations that are currently restricted by the high price of oil. Cambodia, for example, relies entirely on expensive imported fuel to provide its people with electricity. Sometimes the supply is inconsistent and is often considered one of the major factors that restrict the country’s economic development. The jatropha plant that is native to Cambodia may be the answer to all of their woes. This plant is plentiful throughout the area and can easily be harvested by local communities. It can be converted into biofuel that would provide the country with its own sustainable power source. Researchers claim that Cambodia is one of the largest regions in the world would immediately benefit from implementing biofuel technologies.
E. B. Chuong writes articles about recreational vehicles, and outdoor activities. Are you still looking for a good price on Shoei Helmets? It’s no secret Shoei is a popular helmet. Check out our top selling Shoei Multitec helmets today.
Source: EzineArticles.com
Whether or not you believe in global warming and the threat of carbon dioxide emissions, there has been a lot of talk about bio fuels in the past few years. The situations in the middle east and the rising cost of petroleum and other fossil fuels have also sparked an interest in bio fuels. Biodiesel and ethanol get most of the press but there is one biofuel that does not get much airtime. It is a fuel that grows naturally and is very abundant in many parts of the world. Enormous amounts of this fuel are thrown away as waste or left to rot on the ground every year. To utilize this fuel requires very little processing and energy and it is a source of energy that is practical for the consumer to use. The fuel I am talking about is firewood for home heating.
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