Introduction
As the threats of climate change have increased, so has research on alternative energy. Alternative energy differs from classic fuel sources (i.e. coal, shale, natural gas) because it uses natural resources that has the ability to be consistently replaced; thus it is also termed “renewable energy.” “Biofuels” are a specific class of renewable energy that refers to biomass (versus other natural resources like sunlight) or harvested metabolites from living organisms that can be converted into a source of alternative energy. In addition to being renewable, these fuel sources also have lower greenhouse gas (i.e. CO2, CH4, etc.) emissions.
The problem is, the creation of biofuels must be balanced with all the other necessities as the …show more content…
For example, biofuels like corn grain ethanol or soybean biodiesel work well, but this causes controversy because it creates competition between alternative energy and food. Moreover, it is difficult to overcome the economic aspect of renewable energy. Clean energy is expensive due to low consumer demand and high production costs; although this could be easily alleviated if consumer demand was higher. Current consumer demand is not high because of the controversies that alternative energy spark; nonetheless, there are biofuels that have the ability to curb many criticisms of alternative …show more content…
Lipid metabolism occurs with phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) as a common substrate in many different fatty acid and protein biosynthetic pathways. The functionality and lifestyle of cyanobacteria lead to many routes to alternative energy. Current investigations The most viable biofuels are typically ones that use sustainable biomass feedstocks that do not compete with food crops, both directly (i.e. corn or soy for biofuels) and indirectly (i.e. land competition), and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are many methods that fit under those criteria have been researched in addition to algae based biofuels; a few of the most prominent are: (1) perennial plants, (2) crop residues, and (3) double cropping systems.
Perennial plants. In 2006, Tillman et al. published an article detailing their experiment to test the feasibility of using low-input high-feasibility (LIHD) mixtures of grasses as a means for biofuel. These researchers planted 152 plots of various combinations of 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 perennial grassland species (i.e. switchgrass) on agriculturally degraded and abandoned nitrogen-poor sandy soil in 1994. These plots were not used for agriculture, and did not require extra resources (fertilizers, excess water) to grow. As samples were collected and analyzed annually, the researchers found that LIDH biomass could provide about 13%
As the threats of climate change have increased, so has research on alternative energy. Alternative energy differs from classic fuel sources (i.e. coal, shale, natural gas) because it uses natural resources that has the ability to be consistently replaced; thus it is also termed “renewable energy.” “Biofuels” are a specific class of renewable energy that refers to biomass (versus other natural resources like sunlight) or harvested metabolites from living organisms that can be converted into a source of alternative energy. In addition to being renewable, these fuel sources also have lower greenhouse gas (i.e. CO2, CH4, etc.) emissions.
The problem is, the creation of biofuels must be balanced with all the other necessities as the …show more content…
For example, biofuels like corn grain ethanol or soybean biodiesel work well, but this causes controversy because it creates competition between alternative energy and food. Moreover, it is difficult to overcome the economic aspect of renewable energy. Clean energy is expensive due to low consumer demand and high production costs; although this could be easily alleviated if consumer demand was higher. Current consumer demand is not high because of the controversies that alternative energy spark; nonetheless, there are biofuels that have the ability to curb many criticisms of alternative …show more content…
Lipid metabolism occurs with phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) as a common substrate in many different fatty acid and protein biosynthetic pathways. The functionality and lifestyle of cyanobacteria lead to many routes to alternative energy. Current investigations The most viable biofuels are typically ones that use sustainable biomass feedstocks that do not compete with food crops, both directly (i.e. corn or soy for biofuels) and indirectly (i.e. land competition), and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There are many methods that fit under those criteria have been researched in addition to algae based biofuels; a few of the most prominent are: (1) perennial plants, (2) crop residues, and (3) double cropping systems.
Perennial plants. In 2006, Tillman et al. published an article detailing their experiment to test the feasibility of using low-input high-feasibility (LIHD) mixtures of grasses as a means for biofuel. These researchers planted 152 plots of various combinations of 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16 perennial grassland species (i.e. switchgrass) on agriculturally degraded and abandoned nitrogen-poor sandy soil in 1994. These plots were not used for agriculture, and did not require extra resources (fertilizers, excess water) to grow. As samples were collected and analyzed annually, the researchers found that LIDH biomass could provide about 13%