What are the environmental impacts of biofuels?

What are the environmental impacts of biofuels?

Regarding non-GHG environmental impacts, research suggests that production of biofuel feedstocks, particularly food crops like corn and soy, could increase water pollution from nutrients, pesticides, and sediment (NRC 2011). Increases in irrigation and ethanol refining could deplete aquifers (NRC 2011).

Is algae biofuel environmentally friendly?

Our research has found that the production of algal biofuels is neither commercially nor environmentally sustainable. In fact, the rate of production from algae growing in the vast ponds required for truly massive production is, for a given area of land, similar to that seen in the most productive areas of the ocean.

What is the economic impact of biofuel production?

Approximately 400,000 jobs would be directly created in the advanced biofuels industry, with total employment creation in the U.S. economy totaling 1.9 million jobs. Direct economic output from advanced biofuels production would rise to $113 billion by 2030. The total economic output effect would be $300 billion.

What role do algae play in biofuels production?

2) Algae Can Have High Biofuel Yields Algae store energy in the form of oils and carbohydrates, which, combined with their high productivity, means they can produce from 2,000 to as many as 5,000 gallons of biofuels per acre per year.

What are the negative aspects of using biofuels?

Disadvantages of Biofuels

• High Cost of Production. Even with all the benefits associated with biofuels, they are quite expensive to produce in the current market.
• Monoculture.
• Use of Fertilizers.
• Shortage of Food.
• Industrial Pollution.
• Water Use.
• Future Rise in Price.
• Changes in Land Use.

What makes algae appear to be a good source of biofuels?

Introduction. Algae are organisms that grow in aquatic environments and use light and carbon dioxide (CO2) to create biomass. Microalgae have long been recognized as potentially good sources for biofuel production because of their relatively high oil content and rapid biomass production.

Why is algae a good source of biofuel?

Algae are organisms that grow in aquatic environments and use light and carbon dioxide (CO2) to create biomass. Microalgae have long been recognized as potentially good sources for biofuel production because of their relatively high oil content and rapid biomass production.

How are biofuels made from algae?

How does algae produce biofuel? Algae are cultivated in large pools or farms. The micro-organisms convert sunlight to energy, and store the energy as oil. The oil is extracted using a mechanical process such as pressing or using sound waves, or with chemical solvents that break down the cell walls and release the oil.

Why does producing biodiesel from crops cause economic concerns?

However, biofuels production, which mainly uses food crops, has been controversial because in some cases it has led to deforestation, and to disputes over rising food prices and land use. It has been estimated that biofuels will provide almost 9 per cent of transport fuel in Europe by 2020.

What is the role of algae in environment?

All algae contain chlorophyll but most lack leaves, roots, vascular tissue, and stems. They play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems by forming the energy base of the food web for all aquatic organisms. As autotrophic organisms, algae convert water and carbon dioxide to sugar through the process of photosynthesis.

What does algae do for the environment?

Simply put, algae are an essential part of a healthy marine ecosystem because they capture and use energy from sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water to produce organic compounds. This cycle helps maintain the balance of life in the ocean.

What are the disadvantages of using algae as a biofuel?

List of the Cons of Algae Biofuel

• It requires large amounts of water to be productive.
• It requires significant fertilizer use.
• It has high production costs using current technologies.
• It takes time to allow algae to create biofuels we can use.
• It has regional suitability issues.

Are there any barriers to production of algae biofuel?

The major barriers to the commercialization of algae-derived biofuel are huge-volume cultivation and high costs for processing. Therefore, it is proposed that commercially viable biofuel production could be accomplished by simultaneously developing high-value co-products from algal biomass [1].

How does the US government support biofuel production?

U.S. policy approaches to support biofuel production The Energy Policy Act of 2005 used a variety of economic incentives, including grants, income tax credits, subsidies and loans to promote biofuel research and development.

What are the economic impacts of using biofuels?

Potential economic disbenefits and impacts of biofuel production Biofuel feedstocks include many crops that would otherwise be used for human consumption directly, or indirectly as animal feed. Diverting these crops to biofuels may lead to more land area devoted to agriculture, increased use of polluting inputs, and higher food prices.

What kind of fuel can be produced from algae?

Among the processes of algae conversion technology, three main routes to produce liquid biofuels from algae are biodiesel via the extraction or transesterification, bio-oil via pyrolysis, and bio-oil via HTL. Both thermochemical conversion pyrolysis and HTL technology are used for liquid fuel production from algae biomass.