The potential of ethanol as an alternative fuel?

Question

Has ethanol the potential to replace oil as transportation fuel?

Answer 1

ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE ARE DOOMED IF WE TRY TO DO THIS. TO CREATE ETHANOL YOU NEED MORE NET OIL THAN IT TAKES TO MAKE GASOLINE!!!

Answer 2

Well, I think the Water-For-Gas system is one of the best alternatives of fuel of my car. Ethanol will still have some drawback, but I cant think of any with the use of water.

I think, even the emission in the Water 4 Gas system is oxygen, not harmful like carbon monoxide for sure. the idea is simple actually, mix water with gasoline to produce HHO, which powers the machine.

A step-by-step manual makes it easier to implement.

If I had to choose between ethanol or water, I would choose water for sure.

Answer 3

Until we can all use electric cars or hybrids, ethanol does make sense, assuming we stop making it from food crops. Here are some numbers.

Switchgrass produces enough ethanol to return 540% of the energy needed to produce it versus 25% (in a best case scenario) for corn. It's permanent root structure means it doesn't need to be replanted and that most of the CO2 released in processing and burning the fuel is offset by what's stored in those roots and it can be planted in marginal lands that the USDA currently pays farmers not to use.

Then there is algae, one strain supposedly emits ethanol directly (in a gaseous state) so it requires no processing or harvesting at all and you can get 6,000 gallons of ethanol per year from one acre of the algae, compared to 370 gallons for corn. Again, any land will do as long as you put in a pond for the algae to grow in and add the nutrients they need. Sugar cane produces 890 gallons per acres, still far below algae or switchgrass.

We can overcome the additional ozone ethanol adds to the air (smog) and it produces less CO2 for those who are afraid of global warming. We don't need to change the distribution infrastructure very much although most cars require a refit to run on pure ethanol. Flex-fuel cars already run on a mix of up to 85/15 ethanol/gas and more research could find ways to boost that even higher.

Long-term I think solar/wind/nuclear for electrical production and electric cars, hybrids initially, is the way to go. I'd love to stop giving so much money and political power to countries that hate us so much so moving away from petroleum is a good idea. If we can find cleans means of using the massive coal reserves in the US, that would work too but it's quite a bit more problematic.

Answer 4

South America potentially has the possibility to produce billion tonnes of ethanol!

Answer 5

It has high numbers.

Answer 6

I agree with Jazzfan.  Putting transportation in competition with food was the WORST idea they could have come up with.  Brazil uses sugar cane, and their operations has more than a decade of tried and true history.  BUT......

The US has a new means of getting renewable fuels from algae that appears to be a God send and it's just in the early stages.  Look up (Google) a company called LIVEFUELS, Inc., VALCENT PRODUCTS, and also VERTICAL ALGAE.  Even MIT is experimenting with algae.  It makes for some interesting reading!

Algae removes (consumes) CO2 (normal photosynthesis), it produces oil that can easily be processed into fuel that can be used in transportation (gas, diesel, and jet fuel).  Depending upon he species of algae grown, the natural oil produced can be processed using less energy.  Need diesel, there is a species that produces an oil very similar to crude diesel.  Need jet fuel, a species produces an oil similar to jet fuel, etc.  Algae that is harvested can also be used in many different products...including FOOD.  This means that algae can not only provide fuel, but also food from the same crop.  

Valcent Products is working on a process to grow algae vertically in a closed loop system.  This would keep the 'crop' free from undesirable species of algae.  I guess you could call it weed free.  The amount of water loss would be considerally less than if an open pond was used.  So, an acre done this way can produce about 20K-25K gallons of oil per acre per year. This about 10K gallons more than using an open pond method.  

We are already consuming algae in beverages, capsules, and powders.  Pay a visit to your local natural health food store, or their website.  Blue-Green Algae has been on the market for decades.  Take a look at the nutritional value.  

With increasing pressures, coal fired power plants are looking for ways to reduce their CO2 emissions.  They are looking at algae.  After all, algae thrives on CO2.  The problem is that a power plant would need a HUGE algae farm to digest 100% of their emissions....at present time.  As technology in algae farming evolves, power plants burning coal can reduce their emissions down to zero.  In the future, oil burning power plants could become self sufficient.  The means for cleaning their exhaust also produces the oil being burned, and provides food.  It's in theory, but as time and technology advances, the more realistic it becomes.  I don't know about you, but I would expect my power bill to decrease.  (Stop laughing, I can dream, can't I?)

Between Switch grass utilizing 'marginal lands', and vertical algae farms utilizing 'bad lands', the US could easily satisfy its current and future energy AND food needs.  This would give us the opportunity to give 'the finger' to every location from which we import oil.  We might be able to go back to exporting oil.  Fuel, food, AND jobs!!!  Algae and Switch grass farming and processing has and can create a LOT more jobs in the US.  

The GOV is not currently putting enough (if any) funds toward alternative fuels.  WE as citizens need to invest in our own future industries.  Private industries like the companies mentioned will be the ones to get us out of our energy and fuel crunch.  Conservation and vehicles that get better milage would help a GREAT deal as well.

Answer 7

might be but a lot offood will be diverted to its production therefore causing a rise in prices

Answer 8

Yes, it has this possibility without destroying the forests.

Infact it's sufficient one eighth of Brazil (about 100/800 million hectares)to have 500 million tonnes of ethanol...

Answer 9

non, it still pollutes, and it takes up valuable agricultural space needed to feed our much too large population...

the only good thing is is that we can grow the stuff...