When you think about it, it’s amazing that a simple mixture of solid, liquid, and gaseous hydrocarbons could have had such remarkable utility in the advancement of mankind. 

But the continued use of petroleum is increasingly becoming a source of controversy. The history of petroleum is in part a bloody one and environmental concerns and the sustainability agenda have led to calls for a curtailment of its use.

It’s clear that petroleum is neither all good nor all bad, therefore, it is important to weigh both sides of the product. In this article, we share 20 important pros And cons of petroleum to help you evaluate the role of petroleum in the 21st century.

14 advantages of petroleum

Petroleum has been used by man for millennia and has played a role as an energy source in diverse civilizations and empires including the Sumatran, Babylonian, Persian, and Chinese empires. 

Oil is the fuel of the discoveries of organic chemistry, the invention of the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE), and the industrial revolution. Here are the need-to-know benefits of petroleum:

1. It’s an authoritative energy source that can be used by any vehicle

Petroleum maintains its high demand because key petroleum byproducts are used as fuels that are burnt to generate mechanical work. The most important example of this is the internal combustion engine, invented in the late 1800s. There are three types of ICE, spanning automobiles, shipping, trains, aviation, and even spacecraft all use petroleum byproducts as fuel:

• the spark ignition engine used by automobiles.
• the diesel engine used by trains and industrial machinery.
• the gas turbine jet engines use for aviation and spacecraft.

This makes petroleum essential for every level of human transport and exploration.

2. Stable and reliable energy resource

Petroleum naturally occurs as crude oil, a composite of solid, liquid, and gaseous hydrocarbons. This is an amazing substance that uses high-energy carbon-carbon bonds to store energy with enough stability for it to be extracted, refined, and transported safely. 

Petroleum can vary significantly in its density, viscosity, and boiling points, but it is consistent in its stability. The diverse alkanes, cycloalkanes, and hydrocarbons of petroleum are incredibly energy dense but strong enough to prevent excessive volatility.

3. Petroleum is a vital element in industrialization

During the 20th century, petroleum became the world’s most important energy source and a key driver of industrialization and economic growth. Countries that were early to exploit the benefits of petroleum have become more economically developed countries with advanced infrastructure and technology. 

Countries use petroleum byproducts in all parts of an advanced economy and provide the fuel needed for manufacturing and trade by road, air, and sea.

4. Petroleum is easily extracted and at a low cost

The modern industrial methods and technologies used to extract oil from below the earth’s surface are advanced and efficient. This short video from Total Energies explains how it’s done:

Because of increasing public awareness and regulatory scrutiny, the oil and gas industry has had to innovate, taking huge steps to simplify petroleum extraction and production so that it has less impact and cost.

This has resulted in the widespread distribution and availability of petroleum and its use as an affordable energy source.

5. Extraction of petroleum is safe

Oil exploration and the extraction and refining of petroleum are inherently risky. But safety standards and techniques have improved alongside innovation in the industry and the extraction of petroleum is now extremely safe.

Companies invest in the equipment and training that is necessary to protect workers while they undertake oil and gas well drilling. Industry and regulatory standards seek to minimize well-known risks of drilling for oil that include: 

• being struck by/ caught-In/ caught-between
• explosions and fires
• falls
• high-pressure lines and equipment
• machine hazards

This has helped to reduce the injury and fatality rate in this sector.

6. Transportation of petroleum is easy

Petroleum is extracted and transported in liquid form making it easy to use pipelines, tankers, and heavy goods vehicles to transport it from one point to another. The stability of raw oil means that it can be stored in barrels and move over long distances without exploding.

7. Storage and transportation does not lead to energy loss

Unlike most energy resources that lose their potential energy levels with time, petroleum retains its energy potential. The high-energy hydrocarbon bonds in petroleum are strong and remain intact until refining or deliberate combustion occurs.

This makes oil valuable as it can be transported miles away from the extraction location to the refinery factories without any alterations. It can also be stored long-term without deterioration

8. Petroleum possesses multiple usages

Petroleum is valuable because of the large number of high-utility by-products that can be produced from it. Although over 80% of crude oil is used for gasoline and fuel, petroleum is refined and processed to produce many everyday items. This smart video from the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB), explains how items produced from oil range from detergents to fertilizers:

9. Petroleum provides a strong economic background in some countries

The demand for petroleum generates massive revenues for the world’s major oil-producing countries. This becomes a major contributor to the GDP of these countries and has built their wealth. 

For example, petroleum accounts for about half of the GDP of Kuwait as well as 95% of the government income and export revenues. In many oil-producing countries, the improvement of living standards and infrastructure depends on how their oil performs on the global market.

10. Provision of job opportunities

The oil and gas industry is a 2.1 trillion dollar industry, which is growing as emerging economies industrialize and increase their demand for oil. 

Over 6 million people are employed across all stages of the production of petroleum from the exploration and drilling of crude oil (upstream), through transportation (midstream) to the sale and marketing of petroleum products (downstream).

11. Petroleum is used to create renewable energy resources

It’s the renewable industry’s best-kept secret! Wind turbines and solar panels rely on petrochemicals for their production and maintenance. 

Photovoltaic cells that capture solar energy require petroleum for their manufacturing. The photovoltaic panels need over a hundred liters of petroleum to produce the ethylene required for just one panel.

12. Petroleum is a high-density fuel 

Petroleum is exceptional as an energy source because its strong hydrocarbon bonds release so much energy when they are broken. 

Burning one kilogram of petroleum releases 41,868 kilojoules. This calorific value, known as the  kilograms of oil equivalent (kgoe) of crude oil means that we only need very small amounts of petroleum to create such huge amounts of energy!

13. Petroleum is used in medical therapies and treatments

Petroleum was used by the ancient Chinese as a medical solution for some skin problems. Currently, we use petroleum to manufacture petroleum jelly and other emollients and ointments, though many people are making the move toward natural skincare products. The organic chemistry that underpins modern petroleum applications has been used to develop a variety of pharmacological agents, including anesthetics.

14. Depleted oil fields are productive

Depleted oil and gas fields have unique geological properties that make them ideal for the long-term storage of gasses. For almost a century, these expired oil fields have been used to store large volumes of natural gas worldwide. Other applications for these locations include CO₂ injection and hydroelectricity generation using pumped, pressurized water.

Disadvantages of petroleum

It’s impossible to overlook the downsides when examining the pros and cons of petroleum Let’s look at the downsides of petroleum. The headline issues are obvious to most people but it is essential that we weigh them against the benefits of this resource so that individuals, societies, and nationals make the best decision about how to use petroleum. 

Some of the notable cons of petroleum include:

1. Environmental pollution

Environmental pollution from the by-products of petroleum combustion is probably the most well-known downside of petroleum use. Many scientists think the generation of greenhouse gasses from gasoline and diesel causes the proposed phenomenon of global warming.

Exhaust fumes from internal combustion engines are a noteworthy contributor to air pollution, causing acid rain and deteriorated air quality that causes health problems. 

2. Oil spillage

Oil has been responsible for major environmental disasters in the 20th century, such as the Exonn Valdez oil spill (1989) and the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010. 

When petroleum finds its way into water bodies, it floats on top of the water, forming a film that blocks out light and hinders aeration. When you look at the persistent devastation an oil spill causes you can see that petroleum can devastate marine life:

3. Has toxic byproducts

Crude oil is refined to produce fuels and other byproducts. But the refinery process generates extremely noxious substances that cause significant, life-limiting health problems. Toxic byproducts of petroleum include: 

• Benzo(a)pyrene which can cause lung cancer.
• Acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen
• Benzene. Exposure in pregnancy and early childhood can cause leukemia.
• Formaldehyde (gas) is a known cause of leukemia and other cancers.
• Lead can cause neurological problems in children.  

4. It is a limited resource

In many societies, petroleum is used as though there is an inexhaustible supply. But it’s important to consider that it is non-renewable. This means once petroleum is extracted and consumed as a product, it can never be reused or replaced.

Oil is becoming scarce as a resource while global demand continues to increase. This drives up its cost and accelerates its consumption. According to Worldometer, if the current level of consumption is maintained there are only 47 years of petroleum supply left on the earth. 

A significant decrease in petroleum supply might cause nasty scenarios, including wars, famines, and economic collapse. Therefore, alternative energy sources need to supplement and reduce the over-reliance on petroleum.

5. Used as a tool for political gain

Modern history is filled with individuals and governments who have exploited petroleum for political gain. In particular, oil-rich, corruption, and violence can harm less economically developed countries as people fight over the oil, and revenues and withhold investment in the infrastructure and services required to raise living standards for the population. 

Some African countries lose as much as 40% of their oil revenues to corruption while the countries are impoverished. Alternatively wealthier nations may interfere with the government of oil-rich but poor countries to create dependence and exploit their resources. 

6. Regular maintenance of the infrastructure

The upstream, midstream and downstream aspects of oil require complex infrastructure. Significant financial, equipment and human resources are required to maintain oil drilling, refinery, storage, and transportation infrastructure.  Intensive monitoring of the machine is involved, and maintenance has to be performed to prevent any accidents or oil spillage.

Conclusion on pros and cons of petroleum

Right now, petroleum seems to be an inescapable part of modern life for the majority of countries in the world. Many of the pollution and environmental harms of petroleum are being addressed by improved technologies, that prevent or restore environmental damage. However, as it is a finite resource, we have to get used to the fact that we cannot take petroleum for granted. Investment in ways to make petroleum production and use cleaner and more efficient, alongside alternative energy sources appears to be the way forward.

Do you think the advantages of using petroleum outweigh its disadvantages? Share with us in our comments.

11 Important Ethanol Pros And Cons You Need to Know

With the increased awareness of the dangers posed by some fuels to the environment, as well as the fact that most of them are depletable, more focus is now on alternative sources of energy.

The world is now shifting to the use of renewable sources of energy, which are more friendly to the environment and do not face depletion risk.

Today, our focus is on ethanol gas, and we shall look at various ethanol pros and cons, to better understand its usage.

Although ethanol used as a fuel was discovered many decades ago, the fuel didn’t attract much popularity as gasoline. Therefore, gasoline is being used more despite the many drawbacks.

In this article, we try to understand the benefits that come with using ethanol as a fuel, as well as some of its drawbacks.

What is Ethanol?

Ethanol is a biofuel that is created through the fermentation of plants, especially sugarcane and corn. It is a renewable energy source that is made from living organisms, as well as other biological elements like algae and manure.

However, although the fuel is a renewable resource, we require energy to produce it.

And, even though ethanol offers a cleaner form of burning fuel, it also has its shortfalls which made gasoline a more preferred fuel. Proponents of increased use of ethanol consider the fuel green, as it is not toxic to the environment.

How to Make Ethanol

No matter the use, all ethanol is manufactured through processing grains like barley, wheat, corn, and other plants. The production process of ethanol fuel is completed through three distinct stages:

1. Production Stage

This is the initial stage of ethanol fuel production. The stage starts with the microbial fermentation, whereby they ferment natural sugars.  In the process, natural carbohydrates such as cellulose and starch, are converted into sugar, using enzymes. Just like in producing alcohol, the distillation of these sugar takes place next.

2. Distillation

This is the second phase of ethanol manufacturing. Here, the process of removing water from sugars takes place. The process is necessary if the ethanol is to become a viable fuel. However, although the distillation process removes most of the water, it also lowers the purity of the ethanol down to about 96%.

For this reason, one more step is needed to make the ethanol a purer product. Therefore, dehydration takes place.

3. Dehydration

In this last stage of ethanol creation, the substance undergoes five essential stages. Firstly, benzene and cyclohexane are added to the solution in a process known as azeotropic distilling. This combination process forms a heterogeneous azeotropic solution of a vapor or liquid mixture.

When now the mixture is distilled, it brings about the generation of a substance known as anhydrous ethanol. The process also produces a gaseous solution of benzene, cyclohexane, and water. When it is again condensed, it forms two-parts ethanol.

From here, the last step is to add a ternary component that aims to increase the volatility of the current ethanol.

Ethanol, Gasoline Blending

Currently, virtually all car models can run on an ethanol, gasoline mixture of 90/10%. This means that the fuel solution is 90% ethanol and 10% gasoline or any other hydrocarbon. E85 gas which is the most common,  is a solution that consists of 15% hydrocarbon or gasoline and 85% ethanol.

In the United States, this ethanol, hydrocarbon ratio varies based on requirements by the ASTM 5798, which is the body that specifies the rate. The content of ethanol in ethanol flex-fuel can range between 51% and 83% in the US.

In countries like Brazil and Australia; however, the amount of ethanol in the E85 fuel is always 85% as indicated.

Advantages of Ethanol

1. Greenhouse Gases Reduction

According to various studies, the use of ethanol in vehicles reduces the emission of greenhouse gases with up to 30% in every mile. This is a significant reduction which will have positive effects on our environment. If we want a cleaner and more livable environment, we need to use fuels that are less detrimental to our surroundings.

Unlike fossil fuels such as gasoline which adds greenhouse gases to the environment in substantial levels, the use of ethanol fuels will reduce such effects.

Also, ethanol is made from plants, and therefore, if there is any spillage, more than ¾ of the ethanol will disintegrate in less than five days. This is not the case with petroleum products.

2. Use Existing Gasoline Fuel Stations

Some critics of the use of ethanol, states that there is no enough infrastructure to support its introduction. However, we can still use the existing stations for gasoline to distribute ethanol fuel.

And, although the storage facilities and pipelines may require some adjustments, the benefits of ethanol fuel outweigh these costs by far.

Currently, in the United States, fuel stations that exceed 2000 in total, already distribute the E85 fuel.

It is easy to transform these fuel stations and other components needed to ensure the distribution of ethanol. Therefore, it’s not prudent to cling to the old and environmentally detrimental fuels just because of fear of change.

3. Usable Byproducts

In the process of producing ethanol, the byproducts included are carbon dioxide and DDGs. If CO2 capture technology is used in the process, the carbon dioxide is usable in various processes such as cryogenic freezing, creation of dry ice, as well as in the pneumatic systems as an agent.

On the other hand, DDGs (dried distillers’ grains) can readily be used as animal feeds, in place of soybean meal and cornmeal. Based on a report by Corn & Soybean Digest, a ton of dried distillers’ grains, can substitute 1.22 tons of soybean and corn in the production of animal foods.

Therefore, not only does ethanol protect the environment, but its byproducts are also economical to use.

4. Made From Multiple Raw Materials

One of the best things about ethanol fuel is that it can be produced from various products. For example, in the US, corn is the primary material in the production of ethanol. However, in a country like Brazil, they use sugarcane as the primary substance.

Cellulosic ethanol, for example, can be formed from virtually any type of living plant, even algae. This type of ethanol comes from either cellulose or plants’ fibers, instead of the seeds or fruits. This creates variety in the source of materials to make ethanol making it a renewable energy source.

5. Ethanol Creates Positive Energy Balance

Contrary to what critics of this form of energy suggest, ethanol produces energy balance. Critics say that the power we need to produce ethanol is much more than the energy we get from the process. Research however, shows that ethanol fuel from corn produces positive and balance form of energy.

For example, in the US, corn creates 1.3 units of energy from each unit of corn. On the other hand, in Brazil, they produce eight units of energy from every unit of sugarcane.

In addition, if you use cellulose, experiments reveal that you will make 36 units of ethanol energy from every unit of the raw material. Also, in the process of making ethanol fuel, there are numerous usable byproducts such as corn oil.

6. Ethanol is a Renewable Source of Energy

Since ethanol comes from plants, we consider it to be renewable, as well as sustainable. This is because plants only need sunlight and water to grow, thus less prone to extinction.

This form of energy can be produced from almost any plant, which makes it hard to run out of resources, as plants are growing each day.

Therefore, when looking at ethanol pros and cons, these are the major positive points we should consider.

Disadvantages of Ethanol

Even though ethanol fuel comes with multiple benefits both to the environment and the economy, it also has several drawbacks. These disadvantages include:

1. Price Fluctuations

The prices of ethanol vary and fluctuate greatly. For example, ethanol is in some instances sold in a price that is almost 30 cents lower than that of gasoline. Also, in some other cases, more than 80 cents above the price of gasoline.

These fluctuations are mostly due to locations as some parts, for example Midwest, sell it cheaper due to the high availability of corn.

2. Not As Effective Or Lower Mileage

Naturally, ethanol offers a lower amount of energy in contrast to gasoline. The lower energy will, in return, lead to a lower mileage by around 20% to 30%.

However, there are some engine technologies of some cars, that lessen the effect of lower mileage. These technologies make the effect much less noticeable.

3. Lack of Infrastructure

There is not enough and proper infrastructure for the mass production of ethanol for global use. Also, there are fewer fuel stations for ethanol, with the largest number located in the Midwest. This is because the Midwest is the highest producer of ethanol fuel.

Therefore, many people, even those with fuel-flexible cars, find themselves still using gasoline instead of ethanol fuel.

4. Corrosive Effect

Since ethanol can absorb water, it therefore, means that pipelines for its distribution must be retrofitted to avoid corrosion. This makes it hard to transport ethanol fuel over long distances, without the use of protective technology in the distribution network.

Contamination of the fuel may also occur if it absorbs water, which may damage an engine which sits idle for a long time. Ethanol is also a great solvent which makes it possible to dissolve rubber, plastic, and fiberglass. This is dangerous to engines.

5. Large Crop Space

For large production of ethanol fuel, you require large farms to grow the plants necessary for its production. For example, you require large tracts of land to grow enough corn for massive ethanol production.

Also, due to the volatility in corn prices, it’s difficult to determine how much it costs to produce one unit of ethanol fuel. In addition, since animals consume corn, it exerts more pressure on its production.

Benefits of Ethanol Free Gas

When looking at ethanol pros and cons, it is also prudent to see some of the advantages of ethanol free fuels, so that we can compare. This way, we will have a full picture of the two types of fuels.

1. Higher Mileage.

Research shows that ethanol free gas offers the driver more mileage per gallon. This makes the ethanol free gas more efficient than the one that contains ethanol.

For example, gasoline offers higher energy and therefore provides more power when it burns. For this reason, you are able to achieve greater mileage using less fuel.

2. Engine Friendly

Contrary to ethanol which negatively affects the engine, especially for older car models, ethanol free gas is friendly to the engine. This is because some car models were not built for the use of ethanol fuel.

A fuel like gasoline doesn’t cause corrosive effects, or rust to the engine, whereas ethanol does, due to its ability to absorb water.

3. Less Dependence On Ethanol Crops.

Unlike ethanol, that requires the growth of corn for its production, fuels like gasoline don’t. More production of ethanol means more corn and high dependence on the crop for more production.

The more we produce ethanol, the more we will need corn or sugarcane which will drive up their price.

Conclusion On Ethanol Pros And Cons

Although the increase in the use of ethanol will have a positive effect on our environment, it’s evident that it also has its setbacks. There is a lot that needs to be done to improve its efficiency as well as it’s cost. I hope that this article on ethanol pros and cons provides you with everything you ought to know about this form of fuel.

Do you think ethanol is the best alternative for gasoline? Give us your thoughts in our comments section.

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Green Coast is a renewable energy community solely focused on helping people better understand renewable energy technologies and the environment.

Biofuel Pros and Cons Analysis: How Does It Work?

As the name suggests, biofuels are derived from plant and their products. In some cases, these fuels are then mixed with fossil fuels to improve their efficiency.

For the production of biofuel, plants are specifically grown and harvested. For instance, biofuel ethanol comes from regular corn. This fuel serves as an additive for gasoline.

Sugar cane is the basic source for the production of ethanol in Brazil. However, the United Kingdom uses a different biofuel called biodiesel, which is generated from palm oil.

Turning organic material into a usable fuel requires proper heat, chemical reaction, and fermentation.

Let’s take a look at how to make biofuel.

Biofuel Production

Biofuel is a fuel that comes from the biomass including plant or algae or animal wastes. The required material for making biofuel can be grown on a regular basis, hence this fuel is referred to as a source of renewable energy. On the other hand, fossil fuels like natural gas, petroleum, and coal are non-renewable energy sources.

In order to turn harvested plant material into biofuel, the manufacturers utilize some basic methods. For instance, corn is an ideal material to make biofuel. During the production process, the corn crops are crushed to create a mash.

This allows the enzymes to break down the corn mash into sugars. This sugar liquid is then fermented with yeast to make alcohol, which is also a plant byproduct. After that, the mash is removed from the alcohol through the filtration process.

During biofuel production, nothing goes to waste, as the mash separated from the alcohol serves the purpose for a livestock feed. After heating the alcohol for a specific time, it turns into biofuel ethanol.

Types of Biofuels

We have been using biofuels since the caveman first come to know how to ignite a fire. At that time, wood was the biofuel, which they used to burn and produce heat. At present, biofuel is taking the place of fossil fuel, especially when it comes to the production of electricity.

There are numerous powerhouses, which utilize wood, grass or other types of biomass to produce heat and generate steam to run the turbine.

Depending on the production process and material, biofuels are of different types. Some of them are mentioned below.

Biofuel Ethanol

In fact, Liquid biofuels are of great importance as they can replace the other nonrenewable energy resources. We can use it as a fuel to run our buses and other means of transportation. Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a liquid biofuel that is used after blending with gasoline.

These are the first-generation ethanol, which comes from the food crops. On the contrary,  second-generation biofuel is derived from low-value biomass. By processing this high cellulose content, it is possible to make cellulosic ethanol. We can use different materials to create this type of biofuel including crop residues, wood chips, and municipal waste.

We can produce cellulosic ethanol through sugarcane bagasse, which is a waste product that comes out during sugar production. The conversion rate is lower as compared to the first-generation biofuels; hence, cellulosic ethanol usually serves only as a gasoline additive.

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Biodiesel

Biodiesel is another type of liquid biofuel, which comes from oily plants like palm oil or soybean. With a view to produce biodiesel, we can also utilize the used cooking oil from restaurants or hotels.

Biodiesel is much popular in Europe, as people use this biofuel to run their diesel vehicles. The utilization of cyanobacteria and algae to create third-generation biodiesel looks quite promising.

By producing this product on a large scale, we can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. These are some important facts about using biodiesel.

Biomass

We can use biomass as a fuel in different forms. In fact, any kind of organic matter that is capable of burning and produces heat can be used as a biofuel.

Some of the most noticeable examples of biomass include crops residue, wood chips, and manure. It is a kind of renewable energy, which provides the maximum amount of heat as compared to fossil fuels.

In order to create biomass energy, we can use two basic methods. First, one relates to the burning of the biomass in a furnace. The second way of using biomass is quite interesting.

In this procedure, the plant materials digested and excreted by the cows and buffaloes are stored in an enclosed place. After a few days, the cow manure starts to release methane gas, which we can use to meet our domestic needs.

Some biomass produces a biochar output that can be sold for other applications like water reuse.

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Environmental Benefits of Biofuels

Apart from being beneficial as a renewable energy source, biofuel also offers different advantages linked with our environment. Since biofuels are plant-based fuels, they have much little contribution when it comes to climate change and global warming. However, in the future, when large scale production of biofuels will take place, it may result in the emission of greenhouse gases.

On the contrary, cellulosic biomass is relatively more beneficial than other types of biofuels.

This is so, as the land we used to grow our food products will be shared with the crops grown for the biofuel. Hence, cellulosic biomass is more viable as it doesn’t require any specific place for its manufacturing, as the raw material for this type of biofuel is usually a waste product.

By providing a specific place for the production of raw materials for biofuel, we can improve the production of this energy source. It can also cast a positive impact on the economy of developing countries.

Using our waste can help keep flora and fauna healthy providing a better situation for the environment.

Pros and Cons of Biofuels

Biofuels have their own advantages and disadvantages. To discuss this matter in a comprehensive manner, given below are some of the known pros and cons of biofuels.

Advantages of Biofuels

Following are the advantages of biofuels, which include their production cost, resources, and environmental benefits.

Cost of Production and Price

The cost of producing biofuels is relatively less than fossil fuels. Hence, their prices are quite reasonable and are less expensive than gasoline. For instance, ethanol is much cheaper than gasoline and diesel.

With an increase in the worldwide demand for oil, it creates a huge gap between the supply and demand.

This suggests that the prices of fossil fuels will continue to surge in the future.

Resources and Materials

When it comes to fossil fuels, we can’t produce these fuels. Rather we can only use these naturally occurring materials after refining them. On the other hand, we can manufacture biofuels through a wide range of materials like manure, crop waste, and other byproducts.

In fact, biofuels is a great example of recycling where we can utilize waste materials to produce energy.

Renewable Energy Source

This is one of the major advantages of biofuels. Fossil fuels take hundreds or even thousands of years for their production through the process of natural decay.

However, biofuel is a renewable energy source, as we can grow new crops and make more biofuel by using these crops and their byproducts.

Minimum Carbon Emissions

After burning, the biofuels expel relatively less amount of carbon in the air. The toxic materials are also low when compared to fossil fuels. Hence, we can use biofuels as a safer alternative to fossil fuels.

Growth and Security

In fact, every country can produce its own biofuels. Hence, there will be no issue of dependence on oil producing countries, as we see in the case of fossil fuel.

By minimizing the dependence on external fuel sources, even the small countries can protect their integrity. Hence, these countries can secure their future without any external pressure or influence.

Economic Stimulation

Since we can produce biofuels locally, the plants for its production can provide employment for a number of workers and skilled employees. In addition, to produce biofuel, we also need a consistent supply of biofuel crops. This means that we need to grow these crops on a large scale.

It will not only provide job opportunity for the workers but also result in economic stimulation.

Disadvantage of Biofuels

Apart from various positive aspects associated with the biofuels, there are a few disadvantages linked with these energy sources.

Energy output

The energy output of biofuels is much lower than fossil fuels. Hence, it requires large quantities of biofuel to produce the required amount of energy. This has created some doubts regarding the efficiency of these fuels. Most of the analysts are of the view that biofuels can serve domestic purposes.

Hence, we can’t get maximum benefit through these fuels while using them in the industrial sector.

Indirect Carbon Emissions

Although biofuels are known to have less carbon footprints, there are some other ways they can increase carbon emissions. The major concerns are about the productions process of the biofuels.

It starts with the cultivation of the crop, which requires a lot of machinery that runs on fossil fuels. After the crop is ready, you again need giant harvesters to get the crop. Moreover, in order to increase the cultivable land, we are destroying forests at a fast pace, which is the biggest cause of global warming.

Much Higher Initial Cost

With a view to refine the biofuels and make them more energy efficient fuels, it requires to build proper infrastructure. This means that you need to spend a considerable amount to create such a setup. A

t present, the production of different biofuels is costing more than fossil fuels. This may change in the future when the technology will be more advanced and less expensive.

Food Prices

Another concern that raises the eyebrows of analysts and environmental scientists is the disturbance of the food cycle. This is so, as when the demand for biofuel will increase, we need to grow more fuel crops for this purpose.

For instance, in the future, we will be growing large quantities of corn not for the purpose to eat it but to produce biofuel. As a result, the prices of food items will grow up, making it difficult for common people to meet their food requirements.

Apart from this, the use of valuable cropland to grow fuel crops will create a shortage of other crops. This could possibly lead to a shortage of different food items.

May Strain Water Resources

In order to grow different fuel crops, you need a lot of water. Hence, the use of massive quantities of water can put a strain on water resources.

This may also result in disturbing the irrigation system in some regions.

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Destruction of Cultivable Land

The growth of similar crops used for biofuel production can affect the productivity of the land. Monoculture can affect the quality of the soil by absorbing all the essential nutrients.

If you alternate crops, it will help to save the vital nutrients of the soil. Biofuel discourages the crop rotation, which will affect the condition of the earth and weakens its overall strength.

Conclusion on Biofuel Pros and Cons

Biofuel is a source of energy, that comes from the various products and byproducts of plants. This is a type of renewable energy source, which we can produce by cultivating different fuel crops. Initially, we are growing the fuel crops at small scale, hence the overall production of biofuel isn’t sufficient to meet our needs.

Furthermore, biofuel is a sustainable energy source and serves as a great alternative to fossil fuels. The renewability is surely a great advantage of biofuel, which suggests that we can replenish this energy by growing fuel crops. It also casts a positive impact on our environment by emitting a minimum amount of greenhouse gases.

Apart from the pros of biofuels, there are some cons as well. One of the major concern about these fuels is the requirement of a lot of energy for their production.

For instance, by using 2 gallons of fossil fuels, we can produce 12 gallons of biofuels. Besides, there are some other costs, which increase its overall price.

When it comes to using biodiesel to run a vehicle, you need to do some alterations. These are very little conversion, which helps the regular diesel engine to run on biodiesel. As a whole, biofuels look quite promising when it comes to produce electricity or use them to run our vehicles.

Since the technology is quite new and requires some time for its development, we hope that one day, biofuels will serve the purpose to meet the energy needs of our world. Until then, we have no other choice but to rely on fossil fuels.

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