Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim_Chow
My guess is biodiesel contains a lot more BTU's than ethanol. Ethanol has fewer BTU's than gasoline, and by the time you figure all the energy to process the corn into fuel, fertilizers (and energy needed to produce them), pesticides, water for the corn, etc., it's a wash vs. fossil fuels. Sugar cane ethanol requires less energy to produce compared to corn ethanol, and while the Brazilian gov't is willing to sell us sugar ethanol at pennies on the dollar for what it costs to produce corn ethanol domestically, our gov't won't allow it. Unfortunately, there aren't many places where sugar cane can be grown domestically in a cost effective manner. Sugar beets might be a possibility. As far as veggie oil, I have no idea how much corn it takes to produce a gallon of used corn oil though I'm sure it's a lot. I guess one could use other oils, like safflower, etc.
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Yeah, you may be right on many accounts. I still never see these 'studies' take int account how much byproduct is used to feed cattle. If they weren't eating that, then they'd still be eating corn.... only now a little something has been taken out of it first.
Anyway, I have a more optimistic long term outlook and confidence in science than some. As I said before, the 'evil', conspiracy loving ethanol industry in the US itself is spending a lot of money in reducing its dependence on corn. Cellulosic ethanol is making big gains in becoming more economical. And I'm sorry, but but if someone thinks ethanol is a huge mistake, then there's no reason that they think biodiesel is a godsend. Think about what it would take on an enormous scale. Right now it's 'fun' to do it on an individual basis.... but that's a long way form it being 'the answer'. I'm not down on biodiesel, I just started this in response to someone implying that biodiesel is the be all to end all and ethanol is simply a conspiracy.
Anyway... i say great for biodiesel, I say great for ethanol... for now. I haven't seen the magic bullet yet... until I do, I say let's give them all a fighting chance.
Here's an interesting read on some of the latest R&D.
Superbugs May Save Biofuels - Forbes.com