Posted by Don in Missouri [24.217.215.52] on Monday, January 12, 2015 at 22:11:59 :
In Reply to: Biofuels are Liquid Solar Energy posted by Don in Missouri [97.64.167.2] on Monday, January 12, 2015 at 17:03:27 :
In case anyone is questioning the energy efficiency of producing different fuels, here's how they compare.
If you have one unit of energy to invest to in producing petroleum fuel, ethanol, or biodiesel here's how much you would gain in the production of each:
Ethanol 2 units
Biodiesel 5 units
Petroleum 0.8 units.
To make biodiesel or ethanol, we use diesel fuel in trucks and tractors, natural gas and electricity. Adding up all those energy inputs, you come out ahead, because you gain energy from the sun.
Crude oil is the looser, because you loose 20% of the energy contained in a barrel of crude oil in the extraction and refining process.
Leveraging our fossil fuel resources to make renewable fuels is a good investment. Not only do we gain energy, but we convert cheaper, less useful forms like natural gas, coal, and electricity into liquid fuels, which are more valuable and versatile.
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