Biofuels/Biomass

Ethanol: A Closer Look

Ethanol is a type of alcohol which burns and can be used in various types of gasoline engines. As compared to the same weight of gasoline, ethanol stores somewhat less energy.

	Ethanol can be made by chemically breaking down sugars found in many plants, such as corn or sugar cane. Basically, ethanol is produced through a fermentation process similar to brewing beer.
	Ethanol can be mixed with gasoline or used as a replacement for gasoline. In the U.S., almost all gasoline sold has a percentage of ethanol in it. In fact, most existing car engines can run with ethanol-gasoline blends up to 10-15% ethanol.

 

Environmental Cost When ethanol burns, carbon dioxide is emitted. However, growing plants used to make ethanol absorb carbon dioxide, which creates a balance in the atmosphere. It is worth noting that with millions of starving people in the world, using edible crops and viable cropland for fuel production raises ethical as well as economic questions.