Dr. Margaret Bryans
BIT 120
December 6th 2016
Biofuels: Are they the Future?
Everything humans need come from our planet whether it is food, water, metals or fuels. It has been determined that if we use up any one of these resources then we will be without forever. Fossil fuels, coal, oil, and natural gas are non-renewable resources. Formed from plant and animals that lived up to 300 million years ago, fossil fuels are found in deposits deep beneath the earth. The fuels are burned to release the chemical energy that is stored within this resource. Energy is essential to our modern technology based society. Currently over 82% of our energy demands are met by combustion of fossil fuel. (EIA, 2014) Coal provides 18% …show more content…
The stem that has passed through the power station’s turbines must be cooled to condense it back into water before it can be pumped again. Therefore, there are huge cooling towers seen at power station. And so, they are usually built on coastal areas in order to access the vast amounts of water to cool the steam. However, this warms the lake or ocean water and can affect the environment.
Advantages of fossil fuels:
• Large amounts of electricity can be generated in one place using coal at a cheap price.
• Transporting oil and gas to power stations is easy.
• Gas fire power stations are very efficient.
• A fossil fuel power station can be built anywhere if you can get the fuel to it. Coal is delivered by large coal trains called a “unit train” which can be over a mile long containing 140 cars containing 15 tons. …show more content…
• They use energy that otherwise might be wasted, or converted hazardous gases into energy that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and create extra pollution.
• All biofuels are safe to handle and store due to their high ignition point.
• The advantages of biofuels include their contribution in conserving fossil resources and the reduction of greenhouse effect since biofuels are more favorable in energy balance and greenhouse gas balance as compared to fossil fuels.
• Biofuels are renewable and a sustainable source as the fuels from organisms that can be grown again. These organisms are mainly plants and wood, although algae. The United States has been faced with a shortage of fossil fuels and needs to find an alternative energy source. An ecological friendly and abundant source of alternative fuel comes from biodiesel. One current method that is still in early stages is obtaining biodiesel is the extraction of oil from microalgae. Currently scientists have found ways to extract oil from algae and convert it into fuel. This innovation of biofuel has the full support of the U.S. Department of Energy whom pledged $24 million dollars in