Increasing emerging
economies has resulted in an increase in energy demand, and thus a look into
the Biofuel. Factors such as oil prices, global warming, and explorative access
issues has spurred the development of biofuels.
Biofuels are carbon
neutralizers but issues and challenges such as Fuel vs. Food debate,
life-cycle-environmental impact of biofuels [1] raises question marks over its
development and sustainability to substitute fossil fuels.
Feedstocks for first generation biofuel
production are mainly food crops and their utilization will lead to high demand
and food scarcity, thus leading to inflation. The vast land also required to
cultivate this crop is also an issue of concern, this destroys the rain forest,
exposes land to erosion, air pollution due to increased application of fertilizer
which releases greenhouse gas N2O and pest
control techniques to improve production by reducing pest invasion causes pollution to the environmant. All of these possess safety concern to human lives and the environment
Sources:
[1]
Society of Petroleum Engineers Biofuels (SPE 140626): Green energy for the century?