Sustainability of Production and Consumption

Sustainability of production and consumption is one of the key principles of sustainable development. It is a foundation of knowledge-based economic development that increases added economic value while reducing the consumption of natural resources and energy. In this article, John David Kaweske explores sustainable production and use of products and services in a manner that is socially beneficial, economically viable and environmentally benign over their whole life cycle. John David Kaweske is founder and CEO of Bio Clean Energy, a producer of Biodiesel and a company which invests in the clean energy sector.

Sustainable consumption is defined as the use of services and products that meet basic needs and demands for a better quality of life, while minimizing the consumption of natural resources, the discharge of toxic materials, emissions and waste so that future generations are not compromised.

The problem of energy security and stability is a cardinal issue throughout the world economic, business and social system. Connection of the energy sector with the competitiveness of the country’s economy leads to a willingness to go beyond the importance of the fight for sustainable development and survival for the sake of profit.

Biofuels as a Plant-Based Solution to the Earth's Growing Energy Problems

Biofuels exist since the cars were invented. Early diesel engines were shown to run on peanut oil. Henry Ford planned to fuel his Model Ts with ethanol, at the start of the 20th century.

When huge petroleum deposits were discovered, gasoline and diesel were kept cheap for decades. Due to this, the biofuels were largely forgotten.

Recently, the rise in oil prices, along with growing concern about global warming caused by carbon dioxide emissions caused biofuels to regain popularity.

As John David Kaweske, the President and founder of Bio Clean Energy, S.A., explains, gasoline and diesel are actually ancient biofuels. They are commonly known as fossil fuels. This is because they are made from decomposed plants and animals that have been buried in the ground for millions of years.

Alternative Eco Fuels

Although diesel and gasoline are still fossil fuel kings of the fuel supply chain, alternative fuels are now swinging the scale more toward green, offering an eco-conscious fuel alternative for future generations. Most alternative fuels don’t come from finite fossil-fuel resources and are sustainable, which means they are completely non-toxic and have lower emissions that contribute to smog, air pollution and global warming, compared to petroleum fuels. John David Kaweske, founder of Bio Clean Energy, a biodiesel manufacturer, has been actively involved in balancing our nation’s increasing energy requirements, while offering a more environment-friendly fuel alternative. As he explains, alternative fuels such as Biodiesel also have a higher flash point than fossil diesel which makes them safer in the event of a crash.

Currently, there are more than a dozen alternative fuels under development or in production that can power vehicles. For example, biodiesel and biodiesel blends can be used in all compression-ignition (CI) engines designed to be operated on diesel fuel. According to John David Kaweske, biodiesel's physical properties are similar to those of petroleum diesel, but it is much cheaper, sustainable, and nontoxic, plus it does not produce acid rain and it does not contribute as much as fossil fuels do to global warming. Studies helped by Bio Clean Energy have shown it reduces engine wear by as much as 30%, primarily because it provides excellent lubrication. In fact, before petroleum diesel fuel became popular, Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine experimented with using vegetable oil (biodiesel) as fuel. Until 2001, only small amounts of biodiesel were consumed in the United States, but since then, biodiesel consumption has increased substantially.

Alternative fuels can help nations become more energy independent. Switching to alternative fuels is a crucial step towards balancing our nation’s increasing energy requirement. As John David Kaweske explains, producing renewable, clean-burning fuel replacement will decrease our dependence on imported fuel, create new jobs, contribute to our own economy and improve the environment. So far biodiesel is the only EPA-designated Advanced Biofuel in commercial-scale production across the country to reach 1 billion gallons of annual production.

Renewable Energy Continues to Grow Worldwide

The term "clean energy" is broader than most people probably realize. While many believe that the term is a synonym for renewable energy, John David Kaweske, founder and CEO of Bio Clean Energy explains that it encompasses even more sources of energy. For instance, renewable energy includes energy derived from wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal sources, whereas clean energy also includes nuclear, clean coal, fuel cells, energy from waste, biofuels such as ethanol and wood pellets, and natural gas.

It is expected that by 2040 the world will add 1.7 billion new people to the planet. As a result of those new additions, along with rising income levels from those of us already here, by that time, energy demand is expected to expand by 25%. To meet this need, the world must continue investing in new energy supplies.

It is expected that the share of renewable energy that is being used globally will grow by a fifth in the next five years and reach 12.4 percent in 2023, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in an annual report released on Monday.

Renewable energy sources will have the fastest growth in the energy sector, providing almost 30 percent of energy needs in 2023, compared with 24 percent in 2017.

During this period, it is envisaged that renewable sources will account for 70 percent of global energy production growth, followed by solar and wind energy, hydropower and bioenergy, according to the report.

Hydropower remains the largest source of renewable energy, and by 2023 it should meet 16 percent of global energy demand, followed by wind energy (six percent), solar energy (four percent) and bioenergy (three percent).

John David Kaweske highlights that 2017 was a record year for renewable energy. The highest solar power capacities, 97 gigawatts, and more than half of that number are related to China. China accounts for almost 45 percent of the global solar expansion, adds John David Kaweske.

In the meantime, for the second consecutive year, it has reduced the growth of new wind power capacity on land, especially in China and the US.

Solar technology will have the largest growth among renewable energy sources over the next six years, and it is expected that during this period 600 new gigawatts will be operational.

Beneficial Properties of Biodiesel

Biodiesel is an alternative fuel similar to conventional or ‘fossil’ diesel. Part of what makes biodiesel so appealing and interesting is that it can be made from numerous natural sources. John David Kaweske, President and founder of Bio Clean Energy, S.A., a Biodiesel manufacturer, explains that biodiesel can be produced from straight vegetable oil, animal fats, tallow and waste cooking oil. As he points out, although animal fat can be used, plant oil is the largest source of biodiesel. Namely, most manufacturers use oils from familiar crops such as soybean, rapeseed, canola, palm, cottonseed, sunflower and peanut.

The diversity of resources used to produce biodiesel has grown significantly in recent years. Furthermore, the industry demand for less expensive, reliable sources of fats and oils is stimulating new promising research on next-generation feedstocks. According to Mr. Kaweske, currently there are three basic routes to biodiesel production from oils and fats:

• ·         Base catalyzed transesterification of the oil.
• ·         Direct acid catalyzed transesterification of the oil.
• ·         Conversion of the oil to its fatty acids and then to biodiesel.

However, almost all biodiesel is produced using base catalyzed transesterification, given the fact that it is the most economical process requiring only low temperatures and pressures and producing a 98% conversion yield. John David Kaweske goes on and explains transesterification as a process in which the glycerin is separated from the fat or vegetable oil, leaving behind two products -- methyl esters (the chemical name for biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct usually sold to be used in soaps and other products).

Generally speaking, biodiesel is both non-toxic and renewable. Because it comes from plants and animals, the sources can be replenished through farming and recycling. That means that biodiesel has many environmentally beneficial properties. The main benefit of biodiesel, according to Bio Clean Energy founder, is that it can be described as ‘carbon neutral’. This means that the fuel produces no net output of carbon in the form of carbon dioxide (CO2). When compared to petroleum diesel, biodiesel reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 57 up to 86 percent, making it one of the most practical and cost-effective ways to immediately address climate change.