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Biofuels And The Environment


Biofuels are renewable, manmade fuels created from natural, plant-based matter and are often referred to as biomass. They are made from renewable sources of carbon, such as plants or animal waste. 


Biofuels are a far more sustainable option than fossil fuels, as they are not an exhaustible resource. There is only a limited amount of fossil fuel at our disposal and we are unable to create more to meet demand as they take hundreds and thousands of years to develop.

Biofuel on the other hand can be created at a far faster rate, therefore meaning it can be produced on demand and being that it is a renewable source of energy, has fewer lasting consequences for the environment. 

Biofuel made from plant matter and crops may be seen to be less sustainable, as the crops must be grown and harvested in order to be used. This uses land space, water and energy, however in the long term it may still be a more effective method of creating fuel as the process is quicker and simpler. 

Sustainability is a huge benefit of using biofuels. They reduce greenhouse gas emissions and have fewer negative effects on the environment compared to other fuel sources, as well as being nontoxic and biodegradable. 

One concern when dealing with biofuels regarding the environment, however, is that the production of some biofuels increases the need for usable land, whether it is for growing crops to use to make fuel or to feed livestock.

This is also a concern as many crops used to produce biofuels are also used as food, therefore by using them to create fuel it is limiting the amount available to feed people. However, the overall environmental impact is far less than other fuel sources, so this may be overlooked in favour of the wider benefits. 

 

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