World Biodiesel Day

Long ago in 2016 I had written about biofuel  extolling the greatness of it all, but now I wonder… Bio-fuel is no doubt renewable fuel made from biological resources like vegetable oils, animal fats algae etc. given the gluttonous nature of humans I wonder about the impact it could have environment. 

Biodiesel could be promoted as environment friendly because it emits less carbon-dioxide on burning. The plants used for bio-fuel do use CO₂ during their growth. But it has other environmental impact.

The extensive use of plants, changes the potential for land use, and deforestation occurs. Large areas of forests are denuded to  grow biodiesel feedstock.  This can cause disruption of ecosystem and loss of biodiversity, not mention release of stored carbon.

It also impacts agricultural practises, which has chemical inputs, uses water in large quantities, efforts will have to be given towards soil protection, and to reduce the negative impact.

Bio-diesel is plant/animal source so water is required to irrigate the feedstock. This would trigger water scarcity, and ecosystem degradation.

Biodiesel feedstock is monoculture cultivation. This impacts the native plants and animals again resulting in imbalance of biodiversity and disturbance of ecosystem.

If the agricultural practise is not properly regulated it could lead to nutrient run off from the field into the water bodies causing water pollution and ecosystem disruption. This in turn leads to algae bloom, and oxygen depletion in aquatic environment.

Production of biodiesel requires huge quantity of energy, farming resource, transportation and processing unless this carefully curated and efficient SOP is place the collateral damage is extensive.

Like all productions there are by-products or let’s call it co-products, glycerol is one of them. again, appropriate management of the co-product is essential so that there is no harmful effect.

The good -bad- and ugly of biofuel probably has to be accessed in totality of its life cycle beginning from the feedstock cultivation to end use.  On one hand we have reduction of greenhouse gas emission and on the other we are contributing to deforestation, habitat loss and other environmental collateral damage.

If you are curious to know more about Biodiesel Vs. Diesel here is as an article from Caranddriver.com