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Home > Archive > Alternative Power sources > September 2005 > Feasibility of biodiesel
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Feasibility of biodiesel
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| Gresford 2005-09-30, 8:21 am |
| I was talking to my father-in-law last weekend about the feasibility of
biodiesel. I told him that I did not know much but that I would
research the issue a little deeper.
One comment he had about the alternate source of fuel was that he heard
it was not feasible because in order to produce it, machines, parts and
other resources that require oil must still be expended (he is also a
believer in the Hubbert Peak Oil concept. I am neither a believer or
non-believer. I just haven't read up on it enough).
Can anyone address how biodiesel can replace oil as an alternate source
of fuel? In other words, when (or if) our oil supply runs low, will
biodiesel be a viable option or is it just another energy "fad" that
will lose interest and die out?
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| Anthony Matonak 2005-09-30, 8:21 am |
| Gresford wrote:
> I was talking to my father-in-law last weekend about the feasibility of
> biodiesel. I told him that I did not know much but that I would
> research the issue a little deeper.
Might I suggest starting with the obvious?
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...sel&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...rch&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...gae&btnG=Search
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ble&btnG=Search
> One comment he had about the alternate source of fuel was that he heard
> it was not feasible because in order to produce it, machines, parts and
> other resources that require oil must still be expended (he is also a
> believer in the Hubbert Peak Oil concept. I am neither a believer or
> non-believer. I just haven't read up on it enough).
Machines that run on diesel can run on biodiesel. All the other fluids
that a machine needs, transmission fluid, engine oil, grease and so
forth can all be produced from biological or other sources.
> Can anyone address how biodiesel can replace oil as an alternate source
> of fuel? In other words, when (or if) our oil supply runs low, will
> biodiesel be a viable option or is it just another energy "fad" that
> will lose interest and die out?
It depends on what kind of "viable" you are looking for and what kind
of crops you are looking to use to make biodiesel. Doing some research
will show you what some of the issues are and the different ways of
looking at things.
For instance, one argument against biofuels is that there is not
enough farm land to produce all the biofuel required to replace all
the crude oil we use today. The counter is that biofuels do not need
to be grown on farm land, or even on land, and need not displace any
existing farming. In fact, they don't even have to replace all the
oil we use today.
Another argument is that farm crops require lots of energy in the form
of chemical fertilizers, irrigation and fuel for big farm equipment.
The counter is that better crops don't require chemical fertilizers,
irrigation or big farm equipment and if you must stick with crops
that require such things, there are organic fertilizers and methods
that reduce the use of big equipment and irrigation.
Another argument is that even though biofuels are a viable alternative,
there isn't enough time before the world ends, er, runs out of oil,
to switch over to using them. The counter is that the world won't run
out of oil in a single day and it doesn't take a long time to start
farming.
I personally believe that with conservation, switching to alternative
(and more efficient) forms of transportation and biofuels, the world
can survive just fine without fossil crude oil. Then, that's just me.
Anthony
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| Steve Spence 2005-09-30, 12:21 pm |
| Gresford wrote:
> I was talking to my father-in-law last weekend about the feasibility of
> biodiesel. I told him that I did not know much but that I would
> research the issue a little deeper.
>
> One comment he had about the alternate source of fuel was that he heard
> it was not feasible because in order to produce it, machines, parts and
> other resources that require oil must still be expended (he is also a
> believer in the Hubbert Peak Oil concept. I am neither a believer or
> non-believer. I just haven't read up on it enough).
>
> Can anyone address how biodiesel can replace oil as an alternate source
> of fuel? In other words, when (or if) our oil supply runs low, will
> biodiesel be a viable option or is it just another energy "fad" that
> will lose interest and die out?
>
It's one option. Not THE solution. It's a popular option due to the fact
that the same diesel infrastructure that exists today is used to
distruibute and use biodiesel. No changes are necessary.
--
Steve Spence
Dir., Green Trust, http://www.green-trust.org
Contributing Editor, http://www.off-grid.net
http://www.rebelwolf.com/essn.html
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Gresford wrote:
Can not comment on if is fad...or will prove to be economically
feasible in long run....just ran across an article that puts
forward another alternative that I found interesting...had not
thought of....
http://www.financialsense.com/Marke...y/wednesday.htm
scroll down a bit for meat of article....
thank you for listening to my thoughts......sno
>
> I was talking to my father-in-law last weekend about the feasibility of
> biodiesel. I told him that I did not know much but that I would
> research the issue a little deeper.
>
> One comment he had about the alternate source of fuel was that he heard
> it was not feasible because in order to produce it, machines, parts and
> other resources that require oil must still be expended (he is also a
> believer in the Hubbert Peak Oil concept. I am neither a believer or
> non-believer. I just haven't read up on it enough).
>
> Can anyone address how biodiesel can replace oil as an alternate source
> of fuel? In other words, when (or if) our oil supply runs low, will
> biodiesel be a viable option or is it just another energy "fad" that
> will lose interest and die out?
--
Seen it all, done it all, can't remember most of it
This tag line is generated by:
SLTG (Silly Little Tag Generator)
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| mike wilcox 2005-09-30, 1:21 pm |
| Anthony Matonak wrote:
> Gresford wrote:
>
>
>
> Might I suggest starting with the obvious?
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...sel&btnG=Search
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...rch&btnG=Search
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...gae&btnG=Search
> http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ble&btnG=Search
>
>
>
> Machines that run on diesel can run on biodiesel. All the other fluids
> that a machine needs, transmission fluid, engine oil, grease and so
> forth can all be produced from biological or other sources.
>
>
>
> It depends on what kind of "viable" you are looking for and what kind
> of crops you are looking to use to make biodiesel. Doing some research
> will show you what some of the issues are and the different ways of
> looking at things.
>
> For instance, one argument against biofuels is that there is not
> enough farm land to produce all the biofuel required to replace all
> the crude oil we use today. The counter is that biofuels do not need
> to be grown on farm land, or even on land, and need not displace any
> existing farming. In fact, they don't even have to replace all the
> oil we use today.
>
> Another argument is that farm crops require lots of energy in the form
> of chemical fertilizers, irrigation and fuel for big farm equipment.
> The counter is that better crops don't require chemical fertilizers,
> irrigation or big farm equipment and if you must stick with crops
> that require such things, there are organic fertilizers and methods
> that reduce the use of big equipment and irrigation.
>
> Another argument is that even though biofuels are a viable alternative,
> there isn't enough time before the world ends, er, runs out of oil,
> to switch over to using them. The counter is that the world won't run
> out of oil in a single day and it doesn't take a long time to start
> farming.
>
> I personally believe that with conservation, switching to alternative
> (and more efficient) forms of transportation and biofuels, the world
> can survive just fine without fossil crude oil. Then, that's just me.
>
> Anthony
The best bet is to say the hell with what anyone thinks, buy some
acreage and get to it right now ;~) We all know it works and is
sustainable if you already have the land to grow your own fuel. On a
national basis it can never replace crude oil and we're are all screwed.
The best proof of this is vist Bush's ranch to see how he has prepared
for himself. The ranch contains solar panels to generate electricity for
and heating water. He collects rainwater (25,000-gallons)for landscape
irrigation. His air conditioning system uses groundwater. He has a
graywater recycling system. And the grasses he has planted on the ranch
are native to the area. I strongly suggest we follow his example and let
the lemmings wait for someone to solve the problem for them.
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| mike wilcox 2005-09-30, 2:21 pm |
| sno wrote:
>
> Gresford wrote:
>
> Can not comment on if is fad...or will prove to be economically
> feasible in long run....just ran across an article that puts
> forward another alternative that I found interesting...had not
> thought of....
>
> http://www.financialsense.com/Marke...y/wednesday.htm
>
> scroll down a bit for meat of article....
>
> thank you for listening to my thoughts......sno
>
>
>
>
Very messy,toxic and will require massive strip mining on a scale never
seen before.
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| the seventh sign 2005-09-30, 5:21 pm |
| Gresford wrote:
> I was talking to my father-in-law last weekend about the feasibility of
> biodiesel. I told him that I did not know much but that I would
> research the issue a little deeper.
>
> One comment he had about the alternate source of fuel was that he heard
> it was not feasible because in order to produce it, machines, parts and
> other resources that require oil must still be expended (he is also a
> believer in the Hubbert Peak Oil concept. I am neither a believer or
> non-believer. I just haven't read up on it enough).
>
> Can anyone address how biodiesel can replace oil as an alternate source
> of fuel? In other words, when (or if) our oil supply runs low, will
> biodiesel be a viable option or is it just another energy "fad" that
> will lose interest and die out?
>
biodieselamerica.org/biosite/index.php?id=141,0,0,1,0,0
is a good place to start. Read Biodiesel 101
Want to see how the guy is using it tune into
veggievan.org
The VeggieVan took a hit from rita Fishing boats loaded with biodiesel
and supplies are helping out during the hurricane disasters.
They currently need 250K in donations for th next phase of help
Cost should be considered but becoming less dependent on foreign oil is
the most important part of biodiesel that can not be ignored.
As for biodiesel being a fad i suggest looking at home heating oil for
b100 b50 or b25 heating oils those are biodiesel blends. B100 is 100%
biodiesel.
TSS
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