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 journals 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.
Dickie Dees, however, is just plain awful.
where’s Hiram’s?
I miss the old Three Acres,and Egans
Buncha morons. The only greenhouse gases in rapeseed oil were generated from carbon that the plant sucked out of CO2 in the air to begin with! So for six months or so this stuff was out of the atmosphere, and now they’re saying it’s a terrible crime to put it back...
The C02 that comes out is only the CO2 that the plant source sequestered the previous year. No net gain on the greenhouse gases, then.
Actually, the ethanol has less carbon in it than the gasoline (which is why you have to burn more of it), but it burns more efficiently, so the difference in mileage isn’t as great as the difference in carbon (and, of course, the carbon in the ethanol is removed from the atmosphere by the growing corn while the carbon in fossil fuels is released into the atmosphere without any recovery.
Hiram’s is in Fort Lee.
A pity. "Less oil, more rape" is quite the catchy eco-bumpersticker.
I’m closer to Hot Dog Johnny’s now...
Jezzzzz, I’m going through withdrawls now......*LOL*
I have to make a sorte to either Buffs or Tommy’s in Elizabeth.
withdrawals
A study from Scotland about the production of corn is more than a little suspect. What type of nitrogen is the professor applying? By what method? What is the alternative ground cover? (In the US, far more nitrogen is applied per acre, and in a far more inefficient manner, to suburban yards than to the corn fields they replaced)
It is still called “rape” between farmers, because when we’re talking farmer-to-farmer, we know what we’re talking about.
When non-farmers are about, we’ll use the latin family name, “brassica.”
It is partly PC-ism, but saying “Wow, I got a bumper crop of rape!” in mixed, non-farming company causes a whole lot of people to whip their heads around, and that’s the fault of the non-farmers.
Rape (and other brassicas) are grown for more than just their seed, btw — some brassicas make excellent quick-growing graze for cattle, with excellent feed value.
at the present time,
the cost of E85, does not make sense.
commodity ethanol , is 1.56 a gallon.
there is a 50 cent subsidy.
the subsidy should cover the motorfuel tax.
Because of transportation problems, and lack
of competition, the markup is out of line.
I expect that to gradually improve.
you might find these links interesting
http://ethanolmarket.aghost.net/
http://www.cleanairchoice.org/outdoor/PriceForum.asp
Is Sudex a brassica?
No, “Sudex” and “Sudax” are brand-name sorghum/sudangrass cross varieties. “Sudax” is owned by DeKalb, I think.
These are warm-season grasses commonly used for fast cover, green manure, etc.
Here’s a good quick summary of the cultural characteristics of Sudex:
http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/GreenManureCrops/sorghum-sudan.pdf
Brassicas are sometimes known as “mustards” when farmers are talking about seed-bearing brassicas. You no doubt eat a wide variety of brassicas:
Broccoli, cauliflower, turnips, swede/kale, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kolabri, etc.
The seed-bearing brassicas are various mustards, crambe, rape, canola (as a breed of rape), and have various levels of oil in their seeds. Mustards are known for being very hardy weeds where you don’t want them.
The leafy brassicas, the kale, swede, turnips, etc — those make fantastic quick-yielding grazing material.
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