A response to thomassommer2808: They have to cut down the rain forest to crop the land and thats what they have been doing for the last 40 years. By the way, there still is VERY limited supply in the world perspective. I know recently the Oil Execs got grilled but there is not alot of profit unless the gov/tax payers provide to make the money available. If it was profitable the oil companies would be doing it, it's not my idea to have a business that loses money, nor should it be anyone elses.
Google "Thermodynamics of the corn-ethanol biofuel cycle"
The crux of this issue is the ratio of energy to make ethanol to energy you get from ethanol. The above paper shows that the often cited studies that purport to show ethanol has a positive EROI are not including all the inputs. There is no reason not to include things like machinery, distillation facilities, and irrigation.
so, why the brasilians can do ethanol since more than 40 years from sugar cane??? there is also a good succes to do ethanol from biomasses like wood, grasses almost everything...not only from corn!!! There will be no rally between food and fuel... sorry, but you are not at the top of research and development!!
"biofuels" are not limited to ethanol, as one might conclude from this inaccurately-titled video...along with the perception that he's a shill for the petroleum industry. Biodiesel is 85% as energy-dense as petrodiesel, and even less-than-99.5%-pure ethanol clearly has utility as a fuel supplement. The comparison between the current cost of bringing to market the finite resource of petroleum, with economics of biofuel production is apples and oranges.
watch?v=x-Y08RSDP6s
Axbent 2 years ago
A response to thomassommer2808: They have to cut down the rain forest to crop the land and thats what they have been doing for the last 40 years. By the way, there still is VERY limited supply in the world perspective. I know recently the Oil Execs got grilled but there is not alot of profit unless the gov/tax payers provide to make the money available. If it was profitable the oil companies would be doing it, it's not my idea to have a business that loses money, nor should it be anyone elses.
Badboyblue3 3 years ago
Google "Thermodynamics of the corn-ethanol biofuel cycle"
The crux of this issue is the ratio of energy to make ethanol to energy you get from ethanol. The above paper shows that the often cited studies that purport to show ethanol has a positive EROI are not including all the inputs. There is no reason not to include things like machinery, distillation facilities, and irrigation.
jackson32 4 years ago
so, why the brasilians can do ethanol since more than 40 years from sugar cane??? there is also a good succes to do ethanol from biomasses like wood, grasses almost everything...not only from corn!!! There will be no rally between food and fuel... sorry, but you are not at the top of research and development!!
thomassommer2808 4 years ago
Sorry, You will not find the real story here!
cheaphardwarez 4 years ago
"biofuels" are not limited to ethanol, as one might conclude from this inaccurately-titled video...along with the perception that he's a shill for the petroleum industry. Biodiesel is 85% as energy-dense as petrodiesel, and even less-than-99.5%-pure ethanol clearly has utility as a fuel supplement. The comparison between the current cost of bringing to market the finite resource of petroleum, with economics of biofuel production is apples and oranges.
808pants 4 years ago
great stuff, thanks for posting
lextalionis2001 4 years ago