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Lawrence Laboratories scientist: The Myths of Biofuels (Audio)
The Reality Report: via Global Public Media
Jason Bradford discusses “The Myths of Biofuels” – specifically liquid biofuels geared towards transportation – with Lawrence-Berkeley National Laboratory staff scientist David Fridley. The Reality Report is broadcast on KZYX&Z in Mendocino County, CA.
David Fridley is part of Lawrence-Berkeley’s Energy Analysis Program, Environmental Energies Technology Division. The EAP generates and interprets information to inform governments and international institutions on energy-related issues to assist in the formulation of energy and environmental policies. Fridley is also deputy group leader of Lawrence-Berkeley’s China Energy Group, which collaborates with the Chinese on end-use energy efficiency, industrial energy use, government energy management programs, data compilation and analysis, medium and long term energy policy research.
(4 June 2007)
Thailand to enforce bio-diesel in 2008
AAP, The Age
Thailand will enforce the mandatory use of biodiesel at 10,000 petrol stations nationwide on April 1, 2008.
“Initially we will make B2 mandatory for the whole country by April 1, 2008,” said Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand, referring to the bio-diesel fuel consisting of a mix of two per cent palm oil and 98 per cent diesel.
As part of Thailand’s efforts to reduce oil imports and assist in cutting carbon emissions and global warming, the kingdom plans to replace 20 per cent of its vehicle fuel consumption with renewable energy sources such as ethanol and palm oil within the next five years.
“Our target is to cut our consumption of petrol and diesel by 20 per cent within five years, substituting them with ethanol and palm oil,” said Piyasvasti.
(9 June 2007)
Bumper corn crop fuels US energy dilemma
Mark Coultan, The Age
…Across America’s mid-west, ethanol plants, which convert corn into fuel for cars, are springing up like crops after rain. According to the US Department of Agriculture, there are now 110 ethanol plants in the US producing 20 billion litres a year, with capacity expected to double in the near future.
Hoping to make Iowa their fields of dreams, investors from all over the world are pouring money into ethanol, betting that oil prices remain high and the US Government will continue to subsidise the chemical as part of President George Bush’s plan to cut petrol use by 20 per cent over the next 10 years.
…If America is addicted to oil, then it is starting its rehab in Iowa, the capital of its corn industry. The state has 28 ethanol refineries, producing 7.2 billion litres a year.
Although that sounds a lot, it is only about 4 per cent of the fuel sold in the US. With Iowa’s pivotal role as the first poll in the presidential race, it’s highly improbable that Government support will disappear soon.
Ethanol blends of 10 per cent are about 2.6 cents a litre cheaper than straight petrol, while higher ethanol blends are about 10 cents a litre less. This all sounds like good news, but there are some unintended consequences.
The ripple effect of America’s new infatuation with alternative fuels is being felt around the world.
Last year ethanol consumed about a fifth of the US corn crop. By next year, ethanol could consume up to half of the crop, sparking a debate about food v fuel.
Corn is not just a basic ingredient of many food products, but is also a staple of livestock feed, and rising prices are being felt through the food chain.
Already, the price of milk in California has risen 12 per cent this year, and there are predictions that it could rise by another 10 per cent within the next few months.
…Despite its green image, several studies have shown that ethanol produced from corn has little if any benefit in reducing greenhouse gases.
…Can the good times continue to roll? Even Mr Nelson thinks the price of corn is too high, driven up by investment funds swept along by the ethanol boom.
“It’s not driven by fundamentals. The fundamentals are pointing towards a lower price, because we have plenty of corn. It’s the perceived demand. When you talk actual, we have plenty of corn around right now. We’ve got a heck of a big crop coming. Some time we are going to realise that and the price is going to drop.”
…Despite its lack of greenhouse benefits, ethanol is being swept along by a green image. Not only is it renewable, its production has none of the toxic byproducts of the petroleum industry. Mr Brehm said: “We understand that we’re here not only because of high gasoline prices, but also because of people wanting to do the right thing for the environment, burn a cleaner fuel, which is a renewable fuel.”
He says that in the long term, there may be better solutions to America’s dependence on fossil fuels, such as hydrogen fuel or electric vehicles. But one of the benefits of ethanol, blended with petrol, is that it uses all the existing distribution and retail infrastructure.
“Long-term, there are probably better solutions than ethanol out there, but they may be 25 or 30 years down the road.”
(9 June 2007)
BA: One of the better articles on corn ethanol, balanced and covering the most important points.
Contributor SP writes:
America is not addicted to oil.
It is addicted to a lifestyle and oil is one of its most convenient enablers. The drive to substitute ethanol for oil to enable the lifestyle that is the “real problem” demonstrates this. But until a “near death” experience I don’t think a character change is in the offing any time soon.
