Biofuels /Biomass briquettes By Tyler Jenniges

Biofuel / Biodiesel Biodiesel is a replacement for diesel fuel. Biodiesel should not be confused with straight vegetable oil! Fuel- grade biodiesel is produced to strict industry specifications (ASTM D6751 in the US) in order to ensure proper combustion and engine performance Biodiesel is made in a chemical process called transesterification, where organically derived oils (vegetable oils, animal fats and recycled restaurant greases) are combined with alcohol (usually methanol) and chemically altered to form fatty esters such as methyl ester

Benefits and drawbacks Unlike petrodiesel, biodiesel will not catch fire and is an excellent cleaner. Biodiesel also allows you to make your own fuel. One major problem with biodiesel is its not widely available to many countries and is rare in America. Biodiesel has many problems in cold weather

Biomass Biomass fuel is processed from waste material such as saw-dust and chippings from wood to make wood-pellets for biomass heating systems, corn and switch-grass to make ethanol for use as fuel for vehicles. can be produced locally at minimum cost

Pros and cons The biomass may consist of fermented animal waste, agricultural crops, grains and other natural products. However, using the resulting fuel still produces greenhouse gases; however biomass energy is CO2 neutral, which means the CO2 produced is the amount ingested during the plants life time. It seems all forms of alternative energy have some drawbacks, but they all are better options to replace our current dependency on coal and oil. Theoretically inexhaustible fuel source When direct combustion of plant mass is not used to generate energy (i.e. fermentation, pyrolysis, etc. are used instead), there is minimal environmental impact Alcohols and other fuels produced by biomass are efficient, viable, and relatively clean- burning Available throughout the world

Why is it not number one Biomass surpassed oil to become Sweden’s number one energy source in 2009, biomass now accounts for 32% of Sweden’s energy needs. Sweden plans to have half of its energy generated by renewable sources by 2020, and also plans to be completely independent of imported oil for transportation by Biomass energy production is predicted to rise by a further 11% in 2011 and it seems likely that they will realize their 2020 targets. Biomass is one of the smartest options we have to reduce production of greenhouse gases I can’t find a reason for us not to be using it.

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