I wanted to share one reference about the sustainability of this fuel. The
quote below is from http://www.ott.doe.gov/biofuels/docs/lifecycle.html.
"This study provides a life cycle inventory of environmental and energy
flows to and from the environment for both petroleum diesel and biodiesel,
as well as for blends of biodiesel with petroleum diesel."
on the plus side
"Biodiesel yields 3.2 units of fuel product energy for every unit of fossil
energy consumed in its life cycle. "
"Biodiesel reduces net CO2 emissions by 78.45% compared to petroleum diesel."
"Using B100 in urban buses substantially reduces life cycle emissions of
total particulate matter (32%), CO (35%), and SOx (8%), relative to
petroleum diesel's life cycle." (B100 is 100 % biodiesel.)
"Tailpipe emissions of particulates smaller than 10 microns are 68% lower
for buses that run on biodiesel (compared to petroleum diesel). Tailpipe CO
emissions are 46% lower. Biodiesel completely eliminates tailpipe SOx
emissions"
and for some downside numbers
"The use of B100 in urban buses increases NOx life cycle emissions by
13.35%. Blending biodiesel with petroleum proportionately lowers NOx
emissions. B20 exhibits a 2.67% increase in life NOx cycle emissions. Most
of this increase is directly attributable to increases in NOx tailpipe
emissions. B100, for example, increases NOx tailpipe levels by 8.89%."
"Total life cycle emissions of HCs are 35% higher for B100 than for
petroleum diesel. However, HC emissions at the bus's tailpipe are 37% lower."
If you want to order the whole report from NERL see below. Now all I have
to do is see if they have a similar study for ethanol. "I married a
moonshiner's daughter and I love her still." from the Forge listserv.
Mike Miller
"This overview is extracted from a detailed, comprehensive report entitled
Life Cycle Inventories of Biodiesel and Petroleum Diesel for Use in an
Urban Bus., NREL/SR-580-24089 UC Category 1503, National Renewable Energy
Laboratory, Golden, CO. That report contains the detail engineering
analysis, assumptions, and other technical material that supports this
overview. For a copy of that report, contact the same addresses provided"
below
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
1617 Cole Boulevard
Golden, Colorado 80401-3393
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