Biofuels and other alternative sources of energy are attracting interest and investments to solve the problems of increased energy demands, depleted reserves of non-renewable fossil fuels, and related environmental concerns. As a clean, renewable answer to the energy dilemma, biofuel production offers a sustainable solution to reduce dependence on fossil fuels—while reducing emissions.
However, despite its many benefits, biofuel production also faces certain challenges. Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels is critical to understanding how alternative energy sources might impact the economy, the agricultural sector, and the oilseed industry.
Increasing energy demands
Rapid population growth is increasing the rate of energy production and consumption around the world. Between 1950 and 2019, energy consumption in the U.S. alone grew nearly 190%, primarily from fossil fuels, which supply about 80% of this demand. Fossil fuels produce 98% of carbon emissions, contributing to smog and other pollutants that have sparked environmental concerns.
Biofuels derived from biological materials or “biomass” like plants have been explored as an alternative to petroleum-based fossil fuels for over a century. Initially discovered in 1900, when Rudolf Diesel experimented with peanut oil in the engine that now bears his name, biofuels were quickly displaced by their petroleum-based counterparts. Through the decades, war-time fuel shortages and energy crises have prompted further exploration of biofuel production.
Driven by government policies and incentive programs to reduce dependence on foreign oil, biofuel production has increased steadily in the U.S. over the past four decades. Regulations like the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program have promoted the transition to renewable fuels like ethanol, boosting production and consumption.
Biofuel production trends
In 2022, the U.S. produced more than 18 billion gallons of biofuel and consumed more than 17 billion gallons. Most of this biofuel is in the form of ethanol, which is made by fermenting sugars and starches in crops like corn and sugarcane. Nearly all gasoline sold in the U.S. contains at least 10% ethanol by volume.
Biodiesel and renewable diesel comprise a much smaller portion of U.S. biofuel production and consumption. Most of the diesel fuel sold in the U.S. is blended with up to 1% biodiesel. Vegetable oils like soybean oil supply the dominant feedstock for U.S. biodiesel, although other countries around the world use crops like rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, and palm oil instead.
Renewable diesel is similar to biodiesel and is produced from the same feedstocks. While biodiesel is made through a process called transesterification, in which fats react with alcohol to produce fatty acid esters which must be blended with petroleum diesel, renewable diesel is produced by hydrotreating to create a hydrocarbon that’s chemically similar to petro-diesel and can replace conventional diesel without blending.
As interest and investment in biofuel production continue to expand, researchers are exploring next-generation feedstocks to meet the rising demand for alternative energy sources. While most biofuels produced today are made from edible food crops like soybean, sugarcane, and corn, non-edible biomass sources from agricultural waste are also under development. These experimental materials include corn stalks, trees, grasses, leaves, and even algae, but further research is required to make these options commercially and economically viable.
The advantages and disadvantages of biofuels
As a sustainable alternative to replace the world’s dependence on a finite supply of fossil fuels, biofuels present several advantages. However, despite these benefits, biofuel production can also pose some drawbacks. As production and consumption increase around the globe, it’s important to understand both the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels.
The benefits of biofuels include:
- Transition from finite fossil fuels to renewable energy sources
As a renewable resource, the biomass feedstocks that supply biofuel production can be replenished relatively quickly. From seasonal crops like corn, soybean, camelina, and rapeseed (canola) to fast-growing trees, grasses, and algae, biofuel feedstocks can provide a more sustainable energy source than limited fossil fuel supplies.
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions than traditional fossil fuels
Biofuels tend to burn cleaner than their petroleum-based counterparts, producing fewer greenhouse gas emissions of carbon monoxide and other toxic pollutants. Some studies suggest that biodiesel emissions can be up to 92% lower than petroleum diesel. Biofuels hold great potential in the search for environmentally friendly alternatives for cleaner air.
- Securing energy independence from foreign oil sources
Biofuel production can enhance energy security by reducing dependence on fossil fuels imported from foreign sources. By diversifying the energy supply, biofuels can also help minimize vulnerabilities to volatile fluctuations in oil prices and supplies.
The downsides of biofuel production include:
- Potential conflicts with food production
Growing plants for biofuel production is a controversial topic because it diverts farmland and other valuable resources away from food production. This “food versus fuel” debate argues that devoting arable land to fuel crops ultimately increases food prices and exacerbates food scarcity, especially in developing countries.
Utilizing non-edible agricultural residues for biofuel production could potentially solve this dilemma. Instead of devoting farmland to growing one kind of crop over another, new technologies could convert “leftovers”—like corn stalks, grass clippings, and other discarded plant materials—into next-generation biofuel, contributing to a circular economy by reducing waste.
- Land conversion and deforestation
As an extension of the food versus fuel debate, some critics point to the amount of forestland and natural vegetation that has been cleared to make way for biofuel crop production. Converting native ecosystems for feedstock cultivation can result in losing valuable biodiversity and natural habitats.
The future of biofuel production
Balancing the advantages and disadvantages of biofuels, both environmentally and economically, will be critical to achieving a more sustainable energy future. This will require further research and development to reduce the cost of biofuel production while enhancing its environmental benefits.
These ongoing innovation efforts, along with the support of government policies and incentive programs promoting biofuel production, are critical to transforming the energy sources of the future.