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Posted on 09/22/2007 7:49:39 PM PDT by bobsunshine
A renewable energy source designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is contributing more to global warming than fossil fuels, a study suggests.
Measurements of emissions from the burning of biofuels derived from rapeseed and maize have been found to produce more greenhouse gas emissions than they save.
Other biofuels, especially those likely to see greater use over the next decade, performed better than fossil fuels but the study raises serious questions about some of the most commonly produced varieties.
Rapeseed and maize biodiesels were calculated to produce up to 70 per cent and 50 per cent more greenhouse gases respectively than fossil fuels. The concerns were raised over the levels of emissions of nitrous oxide, which is 296 times more powerful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Scientists found that the use of biofuels released twice as much as nitrous oxide as previously realised. The research team found that 3 to 5 per cent of the nitrogen in fertiliser was converted and emitted. In contrast, the figure used by the International Panel on Climate Change, which assesses the extent and impact of man-made global warming, was 2 per cent. The findings illustrated the importance, the researchers said, of ensuring that measures designed to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions are assessed thoroughly before being hailed as a solution.
“One wants rational decisions rather than simply jumping on the bandwagon because superficially something appears to reduce emissions,” said Keith Smith, a professor at the University of Edinburgh and one of the researchers.
Maize for ethanol is the prime crop for biofuel in the US where production for the industry has recently overtaken the use of the plant as a food. In Europe the main crop is rapeseed, which accounts for 80 per cent of biofuel production.
Professor Smith told Chemistry World: “The significance of it is that the supposed benefits of biofuels are even more disputable than had been thought hitherto.”
It was accepted by the scientists that other factors, such as the use of fossil fuels to produce fertiliser, have yet to be fully analysed for their impact on overall figures. But they concluded that the biofuels “can contribute as much or more to global warming by N2 O emissions than cooling by fossil-fuel savings”.
The research is published in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, where it has been placed for open review. The research team was formed of scientists from Britain, the US and Germany, and included Professor Paul Crutzen, who won a Nobel Prize for his work on ozone.
Dr Franz Conen, of the University of Basel in Switzerland, described the study as an “astounding insight”.
“It is to be hoped that those taking decisions on subsidies and regulations will in future take N2O emissions into account and promote some forms of ’biofuel’ production while quickly abandoning others,” he told the journal’s discussion board.
Dr Dave Reay, of the University of Edinburgh, used the findings to calculate that with the US Senate aiming to increase maize ethanol production sevenfold by 2022, greenhouse gas emissions from transport will rise by 6 per cent.
so what?
anything that cuts the ragheads out of the deal is good.
Maize = CORN.
Mark
Because of the political correct folks, Rapeseed is now called Canola.
so what?
I would gladly fill-up every 200 miles, (instead of 300)
to cut the ragheads out of the deal
for the record, because of current pricing, E85 is not a good deal, however, that could change
That wasn’t political correctness, that was marketing on the part of Canadian farmers.
Rapeseed oil was known all the way back into the 50’s to have questionable properties as a fry oil, in particular high erucic fatty acid content.
So Canadian farm groups started breeding a brassica family oilseed that had better nutritional qualities than classic rapes.
And the result is called “Canola.” While is is true that Canola is a particular variety of rape, it isn’t true that any rapeseed oil can be called “canola oil.”
I think the biofuels quest is the wrong direction. Although the genetic research to increasing crop yields is valuable. So even if we never use the science for biofuels at least it should benefit humanity.
We really only need oil for transportation, and that is because of oil’s ultra high energy density. Any fixed use energy needs we can meet with nuclear, and worst case coal.
And we’re probably only 5 years away from a plug-in hybrid vehicle. 80% of America’s gasoline useage is in trips less then 20 miles. Therefore plug-in hybrids with a range of 20 miles would reduce our total vehicle gasoline use by nearing 80%.
Ethanol is dead, or at least dead man walking. Butanol will be the renewable fuel of the future, and it has a energy level much closer to gasoline, plus other positive properties.
With the new advances in battery technology, I think we need to move to battery cars, either by plug-in or fuel to a generator or fuel cell to charge the battery.
Click on POGW graphic for full GW rundown
New!!: Dr. John Ray's
GREENIE WATCH
Ping me if you find one I've missed.
Not if I have to subsidize it with higher taxes.
Trading the oil companies for the public utilities is a step in the wrong direction.
I share the sentiment. However, as long as there is oil in the ME, the ragheads will be in the deal. Alternative fuels will compete with oil at best, they will not replace it.
Even if we were to completely stop using oil, that means there is cheap oil for the rest of the world and the ME thugs will still make a killing financially and physically.
We will always be their target because of who we are and what we represent. This is why I cannot understand the Kumbaya peace lover dimocrats trying to lose the WOT. If we lost and became muslim, sharia law would probably round up the gays and degenerates first.
I don’t really get the liberals who love muslims.. it shows how deep their hatred of western civilization is I guess.
But honestly if we went muslim it sure wouldn’t hurt me. I look at muslim nations and they have much lower taxes, sometimes 0%.. because ‘God decides who is rich’. Not only could I marry multiple women legally.. but I wouldn’t have to worry about a wife leaving me through divorce. One of the crown jewels of liberalism is easy divorce laws.
Rapeseed = canola
..??..how come I just suddenly got the urge to drive 20 miles for a Italian Hot Dog at Jimmy Buffs
..(fellow north Jerseyans will understand Jimmy Buffs)
The master plan is to use up all of their oil before starting on ours.
bankrupting the US, in the process
no thanks.
........................
Bush has already throwm Newt’s majority away.
Thanks for the correction. I was going off of what I was told by several farmers, without verifying it independently.
Interestingly, however, I haven’t heard of any rapeseed grown, in recent history, up in Canada, at least not in my neck of the woods.
Rapeseed = Canola Oil.
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