Biofuels have the capability of being a truly renewable source of fuel. Biofuels are liquid fuels made from organic material (mostly crops such as corn, wheat or sugar). Biofuels tend to be classified into two categories, either ethanol or biodiesel. Ethanol is the main fuel source as it can easily be combustible in a internal combustion engine.
However, biofuels aren’t efficient by any means. Not only is the use of biofuels morally questionable as more crops need to be grown for fuel that could be shipped to developing nations, but it does not actively combat climate change. Though most biofuels are intended to remove carbon emissions, it does not do that. In order to produce the fuels, crops must be grown, meaning more space needs to be cleared in order to grow such farmlands. If society became dependant upon biofuels, a major drought could cause deadly repercussions. This is the same argument used when comparing organic to conventional farming, and neither have a clear advantage. “As a renewable energy source, plant-based biofuels in principle make little net contribution to global warming and climate change” (Noelle Eckley Selin, Clarence Lehman)
However, though currently biofuels are inefficient, due to rapidly developing technology (based off of carbon capture and storage), it may be possible for the production of biofuels to have zero emissions. While the infrastructure is currently in place to produce and use biofuels at a reasonable rate, it would be unwise to do so until further improvements to farming and carbon capture are adapted to counteract the negatives.
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