Biofuels – June 23

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Many more articles are available through the Energy Bulletin homepage

Local Biofuels Production
Jason Bradford, The Reality Report via Global Public Media
Kumar Plocher of Yokayo Biofuels and Chris Hansen of the Post Carbon Institute’s Local Energy Farms discuss production of local biofuels-what are the options for crops, land, processing and distribution?

This program is a follow-up to the David Fridley interview. Full of more stunning statistics about how relatively little biofuels yield compared to our current consumption of gasoline and diesel. Data on biofuels are also difficult to interpret, so work understanding the infrastructure, labor and net energy outputs is needed on local scales. Because crops are crucial for food and feedstocks, we end by advocating more electrification of farm equipment and transportation and using biofuels as little as possible, perhaps as “waste” stream collection as in the local biodiesel production discussed in the show.

Jason Bradford hosts The Reality Report, broadcast on KZYX&Z in Mendocino County, CA.
(18 June 2007)

Business-oriented sustainability site
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Reader eddiejoe67 recommends several articles from this business-oriented website.

Fructose biofuel spells sweeter news for shift out of oil
‘No panic’ over oil reserves, says BP
Better biofuel uses best of both worlds
Has a section devoted to Energy & Climate

About WBCSD:

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development.

The Council provides a platform for companies to explore sustainable development, share knowledge, experiences and best practices, and to advocate business positions on these issues in a variety of forums, working with governments, non-governmental and intergovernmental organizations.

(June 2007)
Most of the articles are drawn from other sources. -BA

Next generation biofuels to turn human waste into diesel
David Adam and Guy Shrubsole, The Guardian
Britain could meet much of its future energy demand by turning waste products such as wood, plastic bags and even human sewage into transport fuels, scientists said yesterday.

So-called “second generation” biofuels could also be produced from agricultural wastes such as straw, as well as farmed energy crops such as willow, and would be free of the controversies that surround current green fuels. A network of waste converters across the country could produce a third of the diesel required by UK motorists while slashing greenhouse gas emissions, the scientists said.

Jeremy Tomkinson, head of the Non-Food Crops Centre in York, said: “This could offer enormous carbon savings and all we need is a source of renewable carbon. We put it in a box and fuel comes out of the other end.” Such biofuels are considered environmentally benign because the carbon produced when the fuel is burnt was absorbed from the atmosphere by the plants or trees used to make it.

Dr Tomkinson said such second-generation biofuels addressed concerns over food production and tropical deforestation because they would not compete with crops or require extra land. He said some environmental campaigners had made biofuels a scapegoat for existing problems, despite only 3% of palm oil being used to make them. About 85% of palm oil goes to make food and 8% to the pharmaceutical industry, he said.

A study by the centre said second-generation biofuels could cost as little as 35p a litre to make, although each production facility could cost as much as £300m to set up.
(23 June 2007)
More of a press release than good reporting. Several half-truths slipped by the reporters. For example, neglecting to mention the growth potential for bio-diesel and the consequent potential of its environmental impact. -BA