Biofuel: Description And Leading Countries
Dec 9, 2009 Sales
Biofuels are regarded as an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels and a new source for economic growth. Brazil is known as the world’s leader, an unusual status for a nation in South America. This is the result of Brazil’s strong commitment to produce an alternative energy.
World’s Main Biofuel: Ethanol
The World’s most efficient Biofuel: Ethanol
Currently, the most widely used biofuel is ethanol, a gasoline mixture of biofuels and fossil fuels. Brazil has come to a point where they can even export their surplus production and most of their cars can use the mix efficiently. They have also succeeded in improving the original recipe from 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent biofuel to 75 percent gasoline and 25% biofuel.
Why are Biofuels so important for the future? Fossil fuels supplies will eventually be depleted by humans. Biofuels are derived from renewable crops. This is the reason why they are considered green energy alongside solar, wind and geothermal sources. Also, Biofuels produce less carbon dioxide than fossil fuels. Scientists believe that this is the main cause of global warming.
Another research angle that scientist are currently analyzing is the possibility of converting pollution and waste materials into biofuels. This would in turn be used for vehicles and heating homes.
Brazil became an eco-friendly pioneer with biofuels during the 1970s, at a time when other nations were turning their backs. Ethanol at the time cost three times more than gasoline. Brazil had an edge, with a culture of growing sugarcane rooted in centuries of tradition. Still, government leaders needed to make a massive infrastructure investment that was not always popular, especially during times when world oil prices bottomed out.
The event that would trigger Brazil’s decision to develop ethanol was the Middle East Embargo of 1973. In order to encourage the private sector, the Brazilian government gave large subsidies and tax exemptions. By 1990, Brazil was no longer dependent on other countries for energy. The 1979 Fiat produced in Brazil was the first vehicle to run on ethanol in the world.
Brazil is now considered the expert in biofuel and has started to share its expertise with he rest of the world. They are focusing on helping developing nations in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa.
Other countries have been inspired by Brazil’s success and are currently investing in their own biofuels with the resources available. For example, Europe is using wheat and sugar beets, Asia is using palm oil and the United States are slowly replacing corn with soybean and switch grass. Great Britain is investigating the development of solid biofuels with manure and trash.
Still, no nation has yet to find an eco-friendly biofuel that matches Brazil’s sugarcane.
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