Biofuels Flashcards
What are the advantages of using biofuels as a replacement of fossil fuels?
Biofuels are renewable
Biofuels add less carbon dioxide and waste products to the environment
Easy to transport
Easy to obtain
What is “carbon neutral”?
The idea that a fuel doesn’t increase the total amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere when it is burnt
What are the disadvantages of using biofuels as apposed to fossil fuels?
Uses up land which could be used for crops, so may increase food prices
Seasonal so may only be able to be used at certain times of year
What is a biofuel?
Any fuel made by humans from animal or plant materials that have recently died. They are an alternative to fossil fuels
Why are most biofuels not carbon neutral?
When making biofuels, energy is needed to fertilise, harvest and transport the crops, and to make them into a fuel that can be used in vehicles.
At the moment this energy usually comes from burning fossil fuels, so some carbon dioxide is still released into the atmosphere when the biofuels are produced.
