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.

As Kaweske further explains, biofuels are similar to fossil fuels, with the difference that they are made from plants grown today.

He points out that much of the USA gasoline is blended with a biofuel—ethanol. This is the as in alcoholic drinks, with the only difference that it is made from heavily processed corn.

There are a number of different ways of making biofuels. However, almost all of these use chemical reactions, fermentation, and heat to break down the starches, sugars, and other molecules in plants. Then, a process of refinement of the leftover products is carried out to produce a fuel that cars can use.

As the Bio Clean Energy founder, Kaweske points out, various kinds of biofuels are used in the counties around the world. Brazil has turned sugarcane into ethanol for decades. So, some cars there can run on pure ethanol rather than an additive to fossil fuels. Biodiesel is generally available in Europe. It is a diesel-like fuel commonly made from palm oil.

In Kaweske’s opinion, biofuels look like a great solution. Cars are the major responsible for the carbon dioxide emission. This is the main greenhouse gas that causes global warming.

As plants grow, they absorb carbon dioxide. Crops grown for biofuels should absorb about as much carbon dioxide as comes out of the tailpipes of cars that burn these fuels. Another advantage of the biofuels shared by Kaweske is that these are a renewable resource since always can be grown more crops to turn into fuel.

Biofuels can be used also as jet fuel. This also offers a solution to carbon emissions from air travel. A new initiative to integrate biofuel into its energy supply was announced by the United Airlines in 2016. It is supposed that by this, the greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced by 60 percent.

Another fact pointed by John David Kaweske is that commercial air travel comprises a significant amount of all carbon dioxide emissions. Due to this, airlines and environmental advocates readily seek alternative fuel sources.