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Ethanol’s Wherewithal.
Burnham, M. 2006. Sustainable Industries Journal. 40:14-18. (Journal article)
Our addiction to oil rises again as a hot topic when
prices increase and consumers look for alternatives to paying more at
the pump. Surely, while the days of cheap oil are numbered, there are
alternatives, and some of them are considered in this interesting
Journal article. Switchgrass, a perennial grass, for example, is a
candidate for producing biofuel, or ethanol, as an alternative to
fossil, or petroleum and coal-derived fuels. The article quotes
President Bush calling for switchgrass, wood chips and cornstalks (all
important biofuel feed stocks) to displace 75% of the nation’s oil
imports from the Middle East by 2025. Big investors like Bill Gates are
investing currently in biofuel markets and it is estimated that
commercialization of biofuel is less than 5 years away. This article
presents new technologies in fuel through the lens of market
transformation in an informative way that will leave the reader
wondering, “Why haven’t we been doing this all along?”
Heat Your Home With
Biodiesel. Pahl, G. Dec./Jan. 2003. Mother Earth News.
(Magazine article)
www.motherearthnews.com
Biofuels are a popular topic, usually in the context
of combustion engines. But, what advantages do biofuels have to offer
us? The scoop on heating with biofuel is that no new heating appliance
or retrofitting is needed and the alternative fuel (made from new and
used vegetable oils or animal fats) burns very cleanly, meaning that it
is less polluting to the atmosphere. Biodiesel also has the advantage of
being biodegradable, nontoxic, and renewable; while fossil fuels take
millions of years to produce, fuel stocks for biodiesel can be created
in just a few months. In terms of balance with the environment, burning
the fuel requires that plants are grown, which balances the carbon
dioxide emissions created when the fuel is combusted. The USDA research
center in Beltsville, Maryland says that if everyone in the Northeast
used a commonly available biodiesel blend, known as B5, in their home
oil furnaces, 50 million gallons of regular fuel oil could be saved
annually. The research center has been successfully using a B20 blend to
heat its buildings since 2000. This Mother Earth News article is a quick
and informative read.
The Potential of C4
Perennial Grasses for Developing a Global BIOHEAT Industry. Samson, R.,
S. Mani, R. Boddey, S. Sokhansanj, D. Quesada, S. Urquiaga, V. Reis, and
C. Ho Lem. 2005. Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences. 24(5/6):461-495.
(Journal article)
Switchgrass requires little water, does not have to be
replanted annually, and has a high ratio of energy output when produced
and burned for BIOHEAT in pellet form (heating efficiently when burned
in pellet stoves). Switchgrass pellets represent renewable clean energy
at it finest. In this article, along with helpful information on growing
switchgrass as a feedstock, the authors provide detailed, step-by-step
directions for densification of switchgrass into pellet form. Analytical
charts and illustrations are also provided. The first step to heating
this way is to know it’s even possible! You can purchase or even make
your own pellet stove, and then acquire the fuel; but it pays to be
well-read before pursuing such a project. You could also produce your
own pellets if you had available land. We considered this as a
neighborhood project, where those with the land could provide the fuel
and share the benefits of switchgrass fuel with others in the community.
Biodiesel from Used
Kitchen Grease or Waste Vegetable Oil. Pelley, M. 2003. Journey to
Forever.
http://journeytoforever.org/biodiesel_mike.html
Biodiesel is another cleaner burning source of fuel
that can be used in place of fossil fuels. These step-by-step
instructions show you how to create biodiesel from used cooking oil. All
that is needed are common chemicals and equipment that can be easily
purchased or constructed. This is an efficient energy source because the
energy used to create the fuel is derived from recycled products that
would otherwise be discarded. The resulting fuel can be used in diesel
engines, including some machinery. The instructions appear direct,
easy-to-follow, and are accompanied by illustrations to help with a
successful project.
The Manual for the
Home and Farm Production of Alcohol Fuel. Mathewson, S.W. 1980. Ten
Speed Press. Berkeley, CA. pp. 208. (Book)
The author begins by stressing that alcohol is an
excellent alternative to gasoline in motor vehicles, but not suitable
for home heating or other gas engines. The production of alcohol takes a
lot of energy and therefore is not considered a completely
energy-efficient replacement to gasoline, however the rising costs of
gasoline, along with the scarcity of crude oil makes this something
worthy of considering or at least thinking through. In this vein, there
is basic information for small-scale production of ethanol, including a
good synopsis of fuel theory and everything you need to know about
feedstocks, processing, fermentation, yeast, use of ethanol, and
distillation procedures. (We don’t remember any comments on the legal
aspects of making your own alcohol.) Mathewson emphasizes the need to
discontinue reliance on fossil fuels and advocates self-contained,
automatic appliances that could turn all sorts of waste material into
useable fuel. The author also encourages electric vehicles, small,
regional hydroelectric plants and full utilization of solar, geothermal,
and other energy alternatives.
Also helpful to the reader are the simple step-by-step
instructions for modification of a carburetor to accept alcohol as a
fuel. The book is a good how-to manual for people who want to operate
regular automobiles without burning fossil fuels; however the approach
may not be practical for an urban homeowner because it is labor
intensive. Also, the instructions appear basic and may work best as a
starting point, or in conjunction with more specific, technical manuals.
If you have several acres of farmland to grow any of the recommended
feedstocks, you could follow the step-by-step instructions in this book
to producing your own clean burning fuel, but on 5,000 sq. ft., probably
not a practical project.
Fuel from Sawdust.
Brown, M. June 19, 1983. Acres USA. (Magazine article)
Cookbook instructions for making ethanol from recycled
sawdust are provided in this good but dated article. Ethanol is a clean
burning fuel that can be substituted for gasoline to run automobiles.
The article begins by cautioning readers to exercise safety and wear
protective gear when following this procedure as sulfuric acid is one of
the key ingredients. The materials necessary for procuring ethanol are
relatively easy to acquire: two discarded 55-gallon drums and chemicals
that can be ordered from any chemical supply warehouse. The supply list
is mostly recycled materials. Supplemental information would be helpful
in this article as there is probably more recent information. Check for
permitting in your area before beginning the process. | |
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