lecture 4: Water and energy 2

Question 1

Biofuels

Answer 1

e.g. Maize, Palm Oil, Sugar Cane, Soybean

Used for the production of biodiesel/bioethanol

Alternative to fossil fuels?
Carbon neutral? Not really.

Rapid growth often on agriculturally fertile land (taken out of food cropping)

Sometimes very high water consumption

Sometimes leading to deforestation (new farmland)

Question 2

Solutions- hydropower

Answer 2

Hydropower

Many small scale instead of fewer large scale water storage

Rainwater harvesting instead of irrigation from groundwater

Fish ladders/maintain flow connectivity

Consider hydrological and aquatic environment

International cooperation across borders

Question 3

Solutions- Biofuels

Answer 3

Never on new cropland
Never with food crops (eg Maize)
Consider full carbon costs
Regulation of markets to avoid perverse subsidies