Biofuels global potential

The global potential of conventional and emerging biofuels is limited by land availability for energy crops as well as the high cost of most existing and emerging conversion technologies (see also Chapter 7). In terms of land availability, estimates... 

Worldwatch Institute (2007). Biofuels for Transport Global Potential and Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Energy in the 21st Century. Earthscan Publications, Ltd. 

World Watch Institute, Biofuels for Transport. Global Potential for Sustainable Energy and Transport, Earthscan, London, Sterling, 2007. 

The potential of biomass to make a large contribution towards replacing conventional fuels is constrained by land availability and competition with other end-use sectors. In particular, the potential for oil seeds to generate FAME is limited. Generally, yields of biofuels from purpose-grown crops depend on the species, soil type and climate.22 At a global level, it is estimated that biofuels could substitute up... 

There is a consensus amongst scientists that biofuels used in a sustainable manner result in no net increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO ). Some would even go as far as to declare that sustainable use of biomass will result in a net decrease in atmospheric CO (Jefferson et al., 1991). This is based on the assumption that all the COj given off by the use of biomass fuels was recently taken in from the atmosphere by photosynthesis. Increased substitution of fossil fuels with biomass-based fuels would therefore help reduce the potential for global warming, caused by increased atmospheric concentrations of COj. 

The LCA study of ethanol focused on the evaluation of (GHG) emissions. Meanwhile, Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) studied the impacts (eg, global warming potential, ozone depletion, acidification potential) resulting from the LCI study. Finally, depending on the results obtained in the LCI and/or LCIA, many suggestions and recommendations can be offered. GHG emissions of biofuels are expressed per MJ of unit output. 

Adenle, A. A., Haslam, G.E., Lee, L., 2013. Global assessment of research and development for algae biofuel production and its potential role for sustainable development in developing countries. Energy Policy 61, 182—195. Available at http //www.sciencedirect.com/ science/article/pii/S0301421513004436 (accessed 25.02.15.). 

Together with Arvin Mosier, Keith Smith, and Wilfned Winiwarter I showed in 2008 that currently used methods of biofuel production (bio-ethanol and bio-diesel) could cause the atmospheric release of N2O in an amount that can wipe out any advantages provided by savings in the emissions of fossil fuel derived CO2, This is possible due to the large global warming potential of N2O, a product of fertilizer application. Earlier studies severely underestimated the importance of the N2O production. 

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