So in contemplating my thumbs down on bio-fuels, I realize I haven’t been fair by not mentioning where using bio-fuels would be a great idea.
For example I was reading about these little machines that are being marketing as a home bio-fuel producers. The idea is that people will throw their excess alcohol into this machine and it will be converted to ethanol by what is basically just a mini distillery. This is not a good idea. First of all who has significant amounts of alcohol left over? I know I usually finish a beer I open. Even if they could be exclusively marketed to frat-houses I imagine the frat boys would just drink the pure ethanol the machine produces
A good use of the same technology is exemplified by the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company who makes a great IPA among other things. They will convert their excess bio-waste into ethanol and use that to fuel all their delivery trucks. Brilliant!
There are a great many waste products that could be fermented and distilled into fuel and utilizing that kind of synergy would not only save these companies money but could take a chunk out of fossil fuel demand.
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Filed under: Bio-Fuels | Tagged: Bio-Fuels, Ethanol, Waste Management | 14 Comments »
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