Biofuel Alternative Assignment
Wenwu Kasselie
AP Environmental Science
1. Identify if the Energy/Energy Source is Renewable or Non-Renewable
* Biofuel is considered a renewable energy source because it is derived from biomass such as plants or animal waste that can be replaced almost as fast as it is used.
2. Describe the Energy/Energy Source
* Biofuel can be described as an energy source produced from organic materials and is used as transportation fuels as well as heating/electricity generation.
3. Describe How Energy is Produced
* The energy source is typically produced by utilizing the oxidation in the absence of air and the fermentation of crops that are high in sugar or fats. This produces ethanol, a common type of biofuel.
4. List and Explain 2-3 Advantages/Benefits of the Energy/Energy Source
* As a renewable energy source, biofuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously reducing global warming. Biofuel also offers a reasonable solution to solar and wind energy, as those depend on weather conditions which biofuel does not.
5. List and Explain 2-3 Disadvantages/Consequences of the Energy/Energy Source
* The production of biofuels requires tumultuous land and water resource requirements and can even contribute to groundwater pollution. Depending on the production process, biofuels could even possibly emit more greenhouse gases than fossil fuels.