Biofuels: the chart
In an attempt to answer the numerous questions about biofuels and whether they are a sane way to cut greenhouse emissions, the Seattle Post Intelligencer has put together a chart that can help us see for ourselves. Because, isn't it about time that we get to see the information with our own eyes? The chart was created using the data from various research universities around the US and the Nature Conservancy.Sadly, the chart tells us what we already know to be true. Although corn-based ethanol is by far the least efficient of the biofuels being explored -- producing roughly the same levels of greenhouse gases as regular diesel -- it's really the only one with any availability in the US. Switch grass and algae-based fuels both seem promising, but they're still years away in terms of development. In the meantime, what we're really talking about is corn. From what we've seen so far with the speculation and hoarding that is going on, it looks as if using food crops for fuel is a very volatile proposition at best. So, is it worth it? Click on the chart to see a the full version.
[via Treehugger]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-16-2008 @ 1:37PM
William said...
Note on the chart, they don't give actual numbers, just relative. The key is looking at actual numbers for the amount of energy, fertilizer and water required to grow these crops. Growing gasoline is a very inefficient process with very low yields. Plus, there is not enough crop land in the US to grow enough fuel to meet the current USA gasoline consumption.
Biofuels are a good idea to provide a small percentage of fuel needs as an oxygenator. However, we will still be burning billions of gallons of petroleum.
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