an overview of biofuels and an in-depth look at algae oil by yuxuan chong
TRANSCRIPT
An Overview of Biofuels and An In-depth Look at Algae Oil By Yuxuan Chong
Contents Introduction to Biofuels Types of Biofuels- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
Case Study: Brazil Issues to Think About
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What is biofuel? Fuels derived from biomass Include solid biomass, liquid fuel, biogas Increased attention- Oil price spikes,
increased energy security, greenhouse emissions.
Divided into 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generations
1st Generation Biofuel
http://www.myninjaplease.com/green/http://green.myninjaplease.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/biofuels_ft_hdr.jpg
1st Generation Biofuel Made from sugar, starch and vegetable
oil Many biofuel sources are food sources
(corn, wheat) Created the Food vs Fuel debate
http://www.naturalnews.com/cartoons/fuel-vs-food_600.jpg
1st Generation limitations Limited production till food supplies are
threatened Dependent on subsidies and not cost
competitive Little reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions (20% to 70%)
2nd Generation Biofuel
http://buildaroo.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/wood-chip-waste-e1282587184807.jpg
2nd Generation Biofuel Made from plants containing lignin and
cellulose Sources include non food parts of food
crops (stems, leaves, husks), non-food crops (switchgrass) and industrial wastes (pulps, wood chips).
Increased reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (90%)
No food competition
3rd Generation Biofuel
http://www.inhabitat.com/wp-content/uploads/algae5.jpg
3rd Generation Biofuel Made from algae Only require ocean water and
wastewater Produce 10-100 times more energy
compared to 2nd gen biofuel 39,000km2 of algae can replaced all US
petroleum fuel – 0.42% of US map, 1/7 area of corn harvested
Advantages of Algae Oil Algae produce 300 times more oil
compared to conventional crops Algae grows 20 to 30 times faster,
leading to shorter harvesting time Can be grown on land not suitable for
conventional crops (arid land, saline soil)
Disadvantages of Algae Oil Carbon neutral ( Does not reduce
atmospheric CO2) Full potentials not realized commercially
(can’t replicate experimental results)
Production Types Photobioreactors Closed Looped System Open Pond
Photobioreactors Pumping nutrients-laden water through
plastic bags and exposing them to sunlight
http://www.treehugger.com/aglae-biofuels-tt001.jpg
Closed Loop System System not exposed to open air Prevent contamination Greater conditions control A need for sterile CO2
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/algae-biodiesel-5.jpg
Open Pond Mainly used to grow high lipid content
algae However, low lipid content algae survive
better in open atmosphere
http://www.dailyhybrid.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/algae-open-pond.jpg
Algae Oil: Industrial Applications http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnOSnJJSP5c
Taking CO2 concentrated flue gas from power stations to grow algae.
Results: Same amount of CO2 produced, but cleaner air, and more energy produced.
Algae Oil: Industrial Applications Growing algae from sewage Remove nitrogen, phosphorus, heavy
metals and even pathogens Results in algae production Killing 2 birds with 1 stone
Case Study: Brazil World’s 2nd largest producer and largest
exporter of ethanol fuel 1st sustainable biofuels economy Sugarcane-based – More efficient than
US’s corn based biofuel Sugarcane biofuel has 7 times more
energy, and is 35% cheaper.
Case Study: Brazil This possible only due to advanced
agricultural technology, large amount of open spaces and tropical climate.
Hard to replicate elsewhere
Issues to think about
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Issues to think about Oil price moderation Food vs Fuel Debate Poverty Reduction Environmental impacts Energy efficiency and balance Solar energy efficiency Carbon emission
Oil price moderation Dwindling oil supply can lead to future
price shock Without biofuel, crude oil and gasoline
will be trading 15% and 25% higher
Food vs Fuel Real food prices drop by 75% from 1974
to 2005. Prices increased recently despite record
crops produced- maize(300%), wheat(127%), rice(170%)
Non-biofuel crop prices increased too due to switchover (barley)
Attributed to demand for biofuel production
Poverty Reduction Create employment Stabilize oil prices (Developing countries
import oil) Success depend heavily on individual
government’s policies
Environmental impacts Soil erosion and deforestation to make
way for plantations Removal of cellulose biomass deplete soil Increased water pressure: To grow and
process biofuel Loss in biodiversity Pollution: Increased level of Formaldehyde,
Acetaldehyde and other Aldehyde Eg: 160% more Formaldehyde in Brazil
Energy efficiency and balance Net energy gain: Difference in energy
input/output Energy needed to grow crops, process
and transport biofuel Little to negative energy gains Eg: 1.29GAL fossil fuel give 1GAL corn
biofuel
Solar energy efficiency Plants vs Solar cells Solar cells are 10 to 100 times more
efficient at solar energy conversion Biofuel sources are easier to grow
http://www.treehugger.com/introducing-worlds-largest-solar-winery.jpg
http://keetsa.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/soybean.jpg
Carbon emission Carbon neutral – No net addition of CO2
into the atmosphere CO2 emission in biofuel processing?
http://biofuelsandclimate.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/lifecycleanalysis.jpg?w=468
Questions?