As the traditional fossil energy (coal, petroleum, etc.) is increasingly depleted and the environmental pollution that human beings face is becoming increasingly serious, countries all over the world are actively seeking to develop renewable energy. Bioenergy, especially biofuels, can be used as a raw material for production because of its use of a wide range of agricultural waste, and it can directly replace vehicle fuel, thus causing widespread interest in large auto consumption and agricultural powers. Brazil, the United States, and the European Union have taken the lead in the development of bioenergy and have provided many valuable experiences.
The development of biofuels in the world as a fuel-fueled agriculture has made it possible for the large-scale promotion of high-tech means such as genetic transformation, and it can provide sufficient raw materials for biofuels of ever-increasing importance. Compared with grain, oil, vegetables and feed plants for human and animal consumption, the advantages of developing fuel plants are outstanding. First, there is no concern about the human health of genetically modified plants. Second, in addition to considering the impact on environmental protection, large amounts of pesticide residues can be tolerated. Third, many fuel plants are resistant to drought and drought.
Brazil is the world's largest producer of biofuels (mainly sugarcane, ethanol). Biofuels programs began as early as the 1970s. Brazil's cheap biofuel feedstock has stimulated renewable energy production and hybrid vehicle sales have doubled. Domestic consumption and export demand in Brazil have led to a rapid increase in the production of biofuels. It is expected that the total production in 2010 will increase from 18 billion liters in 2005 to 26 billion liters.
The United States is the world’s second largest producer of renewable fuels. Research and development began in the 1980s and production reached 12.9 billion liters in 2004. The new energy bill, passed in 2005, will focus on the development of renewable fuels. It states that the use of renewable fuels in the United States in 2012 will reach 28.4 billion liters, which is twice the current level.
Two biofuels directives passed by the European Commission in 2003 prompted the European Union to develop ethanol fuels and biodiesel production. In 2004, the EU produced 526 million liters of ethanol and 2.2 billion liters of biodiesel. The directive requires that the use of renewable fuels for automotive fuels in 2010 should reach 5.75%. Fuels containing bioethanol or biodiesel can be exempt from fuel tax.
Brazil's creation of a bio-energy giant, Brazil’s renewable energy, accounts for 44.7% of the country's energy, compared with the global average of 13.3%. Renewable energy in Brazil is mainly ethanol and hydroelectric power generation, of which the proportion of ethanol is increasing.
According to the data released by the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, in 2005 sugarcane energy accounted for 13.9% of the 218.6 million tons of oil equivalent energy produced in the country. At present, bioenergy has become the third largest energy source in Brazil. It is estimated that by 2010, half of the more than 100 sugarcane ethanol distillation plants under construction will be put into production. By then, bioenergy will surpass water and electricity to become Brazil’s second largest energy source.
Since 1973, the production of bioenergy in Brazil has increased by 744.4%, from 3.6 million tons of oil equivalent to 30.4 million tons of oil equivalent, with an average annual increase of 21.3%. Brazil has great potential for the development of ethanol fuel. At present, the planting area of ​​sugarcane is 5.9 million hectares, and ethanol production is 18 billion liters. The planting area of ​​sugar cane is expected to double within the next 10 years. Through genetic technology, Brazil has cultivated new varieties of early-maturing sugarcane, extending the harvest period of sugarcane, thereby increasing the utilization rate of the distillation plant equipment. The construction period has increased from the past six to seven months to 10 months.
Given that Brazil is one of the few countries in the world where ethanol can be produced at a low cost, the developed countries have expressed a strong interest in participating in the development of ethanol in Brazil. Japan International Cooperation Bank will provide more than 600 million U.S. dollars to finance Brazil to produce sugarcane ethanol. Through cooperation with Japan, the annual ethanol production in Brazil can increase by 3 billion liters. A Dutch company has jointly established a 50 million euro investment fund with Brazilian companies and will reach 500 million euros in the next three years to finance the development of bioenergy projects such as sugarcane ethanol in Brazil.
Brazil began to implement "ethanol-gasoline" dual-fuel vehicles, also known as flex-fuel vehicles, five years ago. With the high oil prices, the use of ethanol fuels is increasingly showing price advantages. In 2005, Brazilian ethanol prices averaged 53% of gasoline, which resulted in significant savings for consumers. Dual-fuel vehicles are increasingly popular and demand is strong. More than two-thirds of the new vehicles currently manufactured nationwide are dual-fuel vehicles, and Brazil currently has 1.3 million dual-fuel vehicles, which are accumulating at a monthly rate of 100,000 additional vehicles. According to the National Automated Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Brazil, the sales of dual-fuel vehicles increased by approximately 70% in 2005, and its sales exceeded gasoline vehicles for the first time. It is estimated that in 2006, the dual fuel vehicles will occupy 70% of the new car market.
Brazil also implements a bio-diesel program that adds 2% of biodiesel to off-the-shelf diesel. The government stipulates that this measure will be enforced by 2008 and will increase the ratio to 5% by 2013. Given that oil prices are still climbing and more than a dozen biodiesel plants under construction are rapidly progressing, the government has begun to study the possibility of achieving these objectives ahead of schedule.
It is reported that Petrobras has developed a new hybrid fuel, H-Bio, which contains 10% vegetable oil in diesel, and plans to start production in 2007. The technical innovation of this new fuel is to add vegetable oil to diesel oil during the crude oil refining process. The new process ensures that the sulfur content in the finished fuel is greatly reduced. Therefore, H-Biogen is not only cheaper than conventional diesel, but also less polluting. The new biodiesel is of good quality, so that all diesel vehicles can now use this new fuel without any modification.
The United States is optimistic about biofuels President Bush made a State of the Union speech earlier this year demanding a reduction of US oil consumption by 20% within 10 years. One way is to use renewable energy such as biofuels to replace the consumption of 15% of the oil consumed by automobiles, and at the same time reduce the consumption of oil by another 5% by increasing the efficiency of fuel use. The fuel saving rate of 20% is equivalent to 75% of the current US oil imports from the Middle East.
Bush suggested that by 2017, the production of ethanol and other renewable fuels should be increased by nearly 5 times to 132.475 billion liters per year, which is equivalent to nearly 9 times the US ethanol fuel production in 2005.
Since the raw material of ethanol fuel is mainly corn, the proposal will have a huge impact on U.S. agriculture. According to the American Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol is a huge economic engine in the U.S. agricultural states. It will produce good returns. In 2005, the ethanol industry helped generate 153,000 jobs, which increased US household income by 5.7 billion U.S. dollars.
In 2000, the United States produced 6.056 billion liters of ethanol, and reached 15.14 billion liters in 2005. In 2000, 6% of US corn production was used for ethanol production. In 2006, this proportion may increase to 20%. The chief economist of the US Department of Agriculture said that fuel ethanol has become the third largest industry for corn consumption in the United States. As the world’s largest corn exporter, the United States’ corn exports account for 70% of global exports. In 2006, corn consumption in the US ethanol industry may exceed its export volume for the first time.
Of course, some people are skeptical about biofuels. The production of 132.65 billion liters of ethanol requires the dedicated use of 40 million acres of land for corn cultivation and the construction of a large number of ethanol production facilities. The most critical point is that the current cost of ethanol production is very expensive. According to estimates of the US Department of Agriculture, if the government subsidy is cancelled, the cost per liter of ethanol is about $0.92, which is twice as high as gasoline.
Up to now, there are more than 5 million E85 (combustion fuels containing 85% ethanol fuel) ethanol fuel vehicles in the United States.
Fuel ethanol is made from corn, and biodiesel is made from soy. In addition, U.S. researchers are researching and developing fuels from weeds. Bush mentioned switchgrass in his State of the Union address. Switchgrass is a wild plant found everywhere in the American continent. Straw stalks are thick and can grow up to 3 meters in height. Compared to corn and soybeans, switchgrass is more likely to be a long-term source of fuel for the United States.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma in the United States are trying to develop methods for using switchgrass to make ethanol. Specifically, the switchgrass is chopped and heated. The resulting carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen are injected into a bioreactor. The microorganisms in the reactor make these The gas becomes ethanol. Another method is to extract sugar from the cellulose of switchgrass and then make sugar into fuel. The current problems are mainly the high cost.
Oklahoma University has cultivated several high yield switchgrass. Professor Telia Filo of the university said: “The seeds of switchgrass are valuable for wildlife, especially birds, so they are also good for the environment. Switchgrass is easier to grow than other perennial grasses, and it can't be cultivated in wastelands where corn and other crops cannot be grown. On the other hand, switchgrass can grow, requiring only minimal amounts of fertilizer and water, and switchgrass can have high yields."
The United States has vast land for the growth of switchgrass. If switchgrass can be a source of alternative fuels, this new fuel will be inexhaustible.
EU promotes bio-energy development In May 2003, the European Union passed a directive to promote the use of bio-fuels in the transportation sector. According to this directive, by the end of 2005, the use of biofuels in the European Union should reach 2% of the fuel market, and by the end of 2010 it will reach 5.75%. By 2020, 20% of the fuel used for transportation will be a new type of fuel.
The large-scale promotion of bioenergy is of great significance to the German energy strategy. At present, bio-energy has accounted for more than 60% of the German renewable energy market. Bioenergy sources include energy plants, wood, biogas, biodegradable household garbage, and industrial waste. While promoting the large-scale commercial application of "first-generation bioenergy," Germany is also stepping up the development of "second-generation bioenergy" that is more economical and environmentally friendly. The new generation of bio-energy technologies will directly use agricultural straw, wood, sawdust and animal manure as energy raw materials to effectively solve the current ecological problems in the development of bio-energy, with lower production costs and higher energy conversion efficiency and quality.
"Second-generation bioenergy" no longer competes with food, edible oil, etc. The recycling of agricultural waste ensures the sustainable development of bioenergy and solves the problem of the current biofuel production process that consumes more energy. The new technology is still in its infancy and there is still a long way to go before large-scale industrial production, but the development potential is huge. For example, 40 million tons of agricultural straw in Germany each year is abandoned on the spot due to its inability to use it, equivalent to 4 million tons of biodiesel or 14% of Germany's annual diesel demand.
Since 2003, the French government has adopted a series of measures to promote the development of bio-energy and encourage the use of bio-energy. In 2003, France used 320,000 hectares for the cultivation of biofuel feedstocks; the biofuel production that year was 410,000 tons, of which 80% was biodiesel. The government plans to reach 2 million hectares of farmland for the cultivation of biofuel feedstock by 2010.
In the UK, the largest biodiesel plant in the EU was established in 2004, with an annual output of 250,000 tons. Biofuels plans to make annual production of biodiesel 750,000 tons. The University of Leeds, UK, has developed a new technology for the production of hydrogen from sunflower seed oil. The resulting hydrogen has a purity of up to 90% and can provide efficient and clean hydrogen products for automotive and domestic fuel cells. The United Kingdom also uses biofuels such as sugar beet to produce biobutanol, which is mixed with traditional gasoline and sold at gas stations.
The development of biofuels in the world as a fuel-fueled agriculture has made it possible for the large-scale promotion of high-tech means such as genetic transformation, and it can provide sufficient raw materials for biofuels of ever-increasing importance. Compared with grain, oil, vegetables and feed plants for human and animal consumption, the advantages of developing fuel plants are outstanding. First, there is no concern about the human health of genetically modified plants. Second, in addition to considering the impact on environmental protection, large amounts of pesticide residues can be tolerated. Third, many fuel plants are resistant to drought and drought.
Brazil is the world's largest producer of biofuels (mainly sugarcane, ethanol). Biofuels programs began as early as the 1970s. Brazil's cheap biofuel feedstock has stimulated renewable energy production and hybrid vehicle sales have doubled. Domestic consumption and export demand in Brazil have led to a rapid increase in the production of biofuels. It is expected that the total production in 2010 will increase from 18 billion liters in 2005 to 26 billion liters.
The United States is the world’s second largest producer of renewable fuels. Research and development began in the 1980s and production reached 12.9 billion liters in 2004. The new energy bill, passed in 2005, will focus on the development of renewable fuels. It states that the use of renewable fuels in the United States in 2012 will reach 28.4 billion liters, which is twice the current level.
Two biofuels directives passed by the European Commission in 2003 prompted the European Union to develop ethanol fuels and biodiesel production. In 2004, the EU produced 526 million liters of ethanol and 2.2 billion liters of biodiesel. The directive requires that the use of renewable fuels for automotive fuels in 2010 should reach 5.75%. Fuels containing bioethanol or biodiesel can be exempt from fuel tax.
Brazil's creation of a bio-energy giant, Brazil’s renewable energy, accounts for 44.7% of the country's energy, compared with the global average of 13.3%. Renewable energy in Brazil is mainly ethanol and hydroelectric power generation, of which the proportion of ethanol is increasing.
According to the data released by the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy, in 2005 sugarcane energy accounted for 13.9% of the 218.6 million tons of oil equivalent energy produced in the country. At present, bioenergy has become the third largest energy source in Brazil. It is estimated that by 2010, half of the more than 100 sugarcane ethanol distillation plants under construction will be put into production. By then, bioenergy will surpass water and electricity to become Brazil’s second largest energy source.
Since 1973, the production of bioenergy in Brazil has increased by 744.4%, from 3.6 million tons of oil equivalent to 30.4 million tons of oil equivalent, with an average annual increase of 21.3%. Brazil has great potential for the development of ethanol fuel. At present, the planting area of ​​sugarcane is 5.9 million hectares, and ethanol production is 18 billion liters. The planting area of ​​sugar cane is expected to double within the next 10 years. Through genetic technology, Brazil has cultivated new varieties of early-maturing sugarcane, extending the harvest period of sugarcane, thereby increasing the utilization rate of the distillation plant equipment. The construction period has increased from the past six to seven months to 10 months.
Given that Brazil is one of the few countries in the world where ethanol can be produced at a low cost, the developed countries have expressed a strong interest in participating in the development of ethanol in Brazil. Japan International Cooperation Bank will provide more than 600 million U.S. dollars to finance Brazil to produce sugarcane ethanol. Through cooperation with Japan, the annual ethanol production in Brazil can increase by 3 billion liters. A Dutch company has jointly established a 50 million euro investment fund with Brazilian companies and will reach 500 million euros in the next three years to finance the development of bioenergy projects such as sugarcane ethanol in Brazil.
Brazil began to implement "ethanol-gasoline" dual-fuel vehicles, also known as flex-fuel vehicles, five years ago. With the high oil prices, the use of ethanol fuels is increasingly showing price advantages. In 2005, Brazilian ethanol prices averaged 53% of gasoline, which resulted in significant savings for consumers. Dual-fuel vehicles are increasingly popular and demand is strong. More than two-thirds of the new vehicles currently manufactured nationwide are dual-fuel vehicles, and Brazil currently has 1.3 million dual-fuel vehicles, which are accumulating at a monthly rate of 100,000 additional vehicles. According to the National Automated Vehicle Manufacturers Association of Brazil, the sales of dual-fuel vehicles increased by approximately 70% in 2005, and its sales exceeded gasoline vehicles for the first time. It is estimated that in 2006, the dual fuel vehicles will occupy 70% of the new car market.
Brazil also implements a bio-diesel program that adds 2% of biodiesel to off-the-shelf diesel. The government stipulates that this measure will be enforced by 2008 and will increase the ratio to 5% by 2013. Given that oil prices are still climbing and more than a dozen biodiesel plants under construction are rapidly progressing, the government has begun to study the possibility of achieving these objectives ahead of schedule.
It is reported that Petrobras has developed a new hybrid fuel, H-Bio, which contains 10% vegetable oil in diesel, and plans to start production in 2007. The technical innovation of this new fuel is to add vegetable oil to diesel oil during the crude oil refining process. The new process ensures that the sulfur content in the finished fuel is greatly reduced. Therefore, H-Biogen is not only cheaper than conventional diesel, but also less polluting. The new biodiesel is of good quality, so that all diesel vehicles can now use this new fuel without any modification.
The United States is optimistic about biofuels President Bush made a State of the Union speech earlier this year demanding a reduction of US oil consumption by 20% within 10 years. One way is to use renewable energy such as biofuels to replace the consumption of 15% of the oil consumed by automobiles, and at the same time reduce the consumption of oil by another 5% by increasing the efficiency of fuel use. The fuel saving rate of 20% is equivalent to 75% of the current US oil imports from the Middle East.
Bush suggested that by 2017, the production of ethanol and other renewable fuels should be increased by nearly 5 times to 132.475 billion liters per year, which is equivalent to nearly 9 times the US ethanol fuel production in 2005.
Since the raw material of ethanol fuel is mainly corn, the proposal will have a huge impact on U.S. agriculture. According to the American Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol is a huge economic engine in the U.S. agricultural states. It will produce good returns. In 2005, the ethanol industry helped generate 153,000 jobs, which increased US household income by 5.7 billion U.S. dollars.
In 2000, the United States produced 6.056 billion liters of ethanol, and reached 15.14 billion liters in 2005. In 2000, 6% of US corn production was used for ethanol production. In 2006, this proportion may increase to 20%. The chief economist of the US Department of Agriculture said that fuel ethanol has become the third largest industry for corn consumption in the United States. As the world’s largest corn exporter, the United States’ corn exports account for 70% of global exports. In 2006, corn consumption in the US ethanol industry may exceed its export volume for the first time.
Of course, some people are skeptical about biofuels. The production of 132.65 billion liters of ethanol requires the dedicated use of 40 million acres of land for corn cultivation and the construction of a large number of ethanol production facilities. The most critical point is that the current cost of ethanol production is very expensive. According to estimates of the US Department of Agriculture, if the government subsidy is cancelled, the cost per liter of ethanol is about $0.92, which is twice as high as gasoline.
Up to now, there are more than 5 million E85 (combustion fuels containing 85% ethanol fuel) ethanol fuel vehicles in the United States.
Fuel ethanol is made from corn, and biodiesel is made from soy. In addition, U.S. researchers are researching and developing fuels from weeds. Bush mentioned switchgrass in his State of the Union address. Switchgrass is a wild plant found everywhere in the American continent. Straw stalks are thick and can grow up to 3 meters in height. Compared to corn and soybeans, switchgrass is more likely to be a long-term source of fuel for the United States.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma in the United States are trying to develop methods for using switchgrass to make ethanol. Specifically, the switchgrass is chopped and heated. The resulting carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen are injected into a bioreactor. The microorganisms in the reactor make these The gas becomes ethanol. Another method is to extract sugar from the cellulose of switchgrass and then make sugar into fuel. The current problems are mainly the high cost.
Oklahoma University has cultivated several high yield switchgrass. Professor Telia Filo of the university said: “The seeds of switchgrass are valuable for wildlife, especially birds, so they are also good for the environment. Switchgrass is easier to grow than other perennial grasses, and it can't be cultivated in wastelands where corn and other crops cannot be grown. On the other hand, switchgrass can grow, requiring only minimal amounts of fertilizer and water, and switchgrass can have high yields."
The United States has vast land for the growth of switchgrass. If switchgrass can be a source of alternative fuels, this new fuel will be inexhaustible.
EU promotes bio-energy development In May 2003, the European Union passed a directive to promote the use of bio-fuels in the transportation sector. According to this directive, by the end of 2005, the use of biofuels in the European Union should reach 2% of the fuel market, and by the end of 2010 it will reach 5.75%. By 2020, 20% of the fuel used for transportation will be a new type of fuel.
The large-scale promotion of bioenergy is of great significance to the German energy strategy. At present, bio-energy has accounted for more than 60% of the German renewable energy market. Bioenergy sources include energy plants, wood, biogas, biodegradable household garbage, and industrial waste. While promoting the large-scale commercial application of "first-generation bioenergy," Germany is also stepping up the development of "second-generation bioenergy" that is more economical and environmentally friendly. The new generation of bio-energy technologies will directly use agricultural straw, wood, sawdust and animal manure as energy raw materials to effectively solve the current ecological problems in the development of bio-energy, with lower production costs and higher energy conversion efficiency and quality.
"Second-generation bioenergy" no longer competes with food, edible oil, etc. The recycling of agricultural waste ensures the sustainable development of bioenergy and solves the problem of the current biofuel production process that consumes more energy. The new technology is still in its infancy and there is still a long way to go before large-scale industrial production, but the development potential is huge. For example, 40 million tons of agricultural straw in Germany each year is abandoned on the spot due to its inability to use it, equivalent to 4 million tons of biodiesel or 14% of Germany's annual diesel demand.
Since 2003, the French government has adopted a series of measures to promote the development of bio-energy and encourage the use of bio-energy. In 2003, France used 320,000 hectares for the cultivation of biofuel feedstocks; the biofuel production that year was 410,000 tons, of which 80% was biodiesel. The government plans to reach 2 million hectares of farmland for the cultivation of biofuel feedstock by 2010.
In the UK, the largest biodiesel plant in the EU was established in 2004, with an annual output of 250,000 tons. Biofuels plans to make annual production of biodiesel 750,000 tons. The University of Leeds, UK, has developed a new technology for the production of hydrogen from sunflower seed oil. The resulting hydrogen has a purity of up to 90% and can provide efficient and clean hydrogen products for automotive and domestic fuel cells. The United Kingdom also uses biofuels such as sugar beet to produce biobutanol, which is mixed with traditional gasoline and sold at gas stations.
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