Imagine a future in which airliners run on cornstalks and Navy ships ply the oceans on tanks of switchgrass. That day may be in sight but challenges remain to scale up production, reduce costs and political opposition, and ensure a sustainably produced feedstock.
Tag: biofuels
“Sustainable” Palm Oil Conference Condones Honduran Land Conflicts
International environmental and human rights campaigners condemn the 4th Latin American Palm Oil Conference to be held by the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) in Honduras on 6th-8th August. The site of deadly conflicts over land rights with alarming impacts to ecosystems and communities, sustainably produced palm oil in this Central American country is impossible. The World Wildlife Fund among other sponsors, are charged with greenwashing and condoning human rights abuses.
Yellow Grease Biodiesel: A Clean, Renewable Fuel Alternative
Biodiesel, a cleaner renewable alternative to fossil diesel, can be made from any vegetable oil, but best using waste cooking oil. It’s use is growing across the US in 5 to 20 percent blends.
Biofuels from Seaweed: A More Sustainable Energy Source?
Many millions are being invested in seaweed research from Vietnam to Israel to Chile because producing biofuels in the sea overcomes many of the serious problems with conventional biofuels.
Solazyme: The Dream of Clean, Renewable, Algae-Derived Fuel
Solazyme is a renewable oil and bioproducts company that transforms algae into high-value oils, and hopes one day to produce enough to rival gasoline and diesel. Their road to the market has been circuitous but instructive as a workable business model for renewable energy.
Papua New Guinea: Rainforest World of Sustainable River Guardians
The Sacred Land Film Project captured a revival of a canoe ceremony with feasting, dancing and carving, honoring their sacred Ramu River. The region is part of the third largest intact rainforest ecosystem left on earth, where sustainable agriculture and forestry practices have allowed societies to thrive for thousands of years, now threatened by multinational logging interests and corrupt governmental entities.
Sustainable Biofuels? From Agro-Fueled Land Conflicts to Algae
Can scientists engineer a biofuel that will replace the environmental and climate destroying and evermore expensive fossil fuels central to the functioning of our urbanized civilization? The answer is no and yes.