Supply of biofuels
Cross posted to economics community
A Swedish bio-gas company has developed a train that runs on methane . Methane is commonly extracted from waste (manure), but this train runs on methane obtained from the whole cow. A process converts the whole cow to methane. So it takes 30 cows to take the passenger train 75 miles. This is not exactly a renewable resource. In general, bio-fuel raises the question can food production keep up with demand from food consumers and bio-fuel consumers? I expect it could because of my belief in technology to improve production. But, I am still skeptical.
Tad Patzek, a Berkeley professor, raises another possible concern about biofuel. He estimates that it takes more fossil fuel to make ethanol than the energy yielded from making ethanol. So by his calculations, more energy is consumed than is produced. (references: 1 2) His model appears static, so again as the technology for producing bio-fuels improves and its usage widens, his calculations may not hold.
A Swedish bio-gas company has developed a train that runs on methane . Methane is commonly extracted from waste (manure), but this train runs on methane obtained from the whole cow. A process converts the whole cow to methane. So it takes 30 cows to take the passenger train 75 miles. This is not exactly a renewable resource. In general, bio-fuel raises the question can food production keep up with demand from food consumers and bio-fuel consumers? I expect it could because of my belief in technology to improve production. But, I am still skeptical.
Tad Patzek, a Berkeley professor, raises another possible concern about biofuel. He estimates that it takes more fossil fuel to make ethanol than the energy yielded from making ethanol. So by his calculations, more energy is consumed than is produced. (references: 1 2) His model appears static, so again as the technology for producing bio-fuels improves and its usage widens, his calculations may not hold.