What is bioenergy?
Bioenergy refers to electricity and gas that is generated from organic
matter, known as biomass.
This can be anything from plants and timber to agricultural and food
waste (sometimes even sewage).
Why is wood considered a form of renewable energy?
Wood is a renewable source of energy, because it grows back.
We can plant new trees and over time they will produce more wood.
What are two kinds of bioenergy that can be used as fuels for cars and trucks?
1. Ethanol, it is a renewable fuel that can be made from various plant materials. The
most used plant materials are corn and sugar cane. By fermenting (chemical break-
down of substances) the sugars from the plants, the oxygen from the ethanol is re-
leased. This helps a car’s engine burn fuel more efficiently, reducing air pollution.
2. Biodiesel, biodiesel is made from fats such as vegetable oil, animal fats and recycled
cooking grease.
Mention the advantages and the disadvantages of ethanol and methanol.
Advantage ethanol:
- Ethanol is the least expensive energy source because corn and sugarcane grow in al-
most every country.
- Ethanol doesn’t cause pollution to the environment. Ethanol and gasoline are
blended together with a ratio 85:15. This ratio minimizes the emission of greenhouse
gasses.
Disadvantage ethanol:
- Ethanol is produced from corn and sugarcane but all these are crops that need
to be grown in farms. Ethanol is a wanted product, it must be produced in a
large scale this requires acres of land. This could lead to destruction of natural
habitats for plants and animals.
- The most important ingredient in making ethanol is corn. If the demand for
ethanol fuel skyrockets, the price of corn would also shoot up and that would
affect the costs of ethanol production and food prices.
Bioenergy refers to electricity and gas that is generated from organic
matter, known as biomass.
This can be anything from plants and timber to agricultural and food
waste (sometimes even sewage).
Why is wood considered a form of renewable energy?
Wood is a renewable source of energy, because it grows back.
We can plant new trees and over time they will produce more wood.
What are two kinds of bioenergy that can be used as fuels for cars and trucks?
1. Ethanol, it is a renewable fuel that can be made from various plant materials. The
most used plant materials are corn and sugar cane. By fermenting (chemical break-
down of substances) the sugars from the plants, the oxygen from the ethanol is re-
leased. This helps a car’s engine burn fuel more efficiently, reducing air pollution.
2. Biodiesel, biodiesel is made from fats such as vegetable oil, animal fats and recycled
cooking grease.
Mention the advantages and the disadvantages of ethanol and methanol.
Advantage ethanol:
- Ethanol is the least expensive energy source because corn and sugarcane grow in al-
most every country.
- Ethanol doesn’t cause pollution to the environment. Ethanol and gasoline are
blended together with a ratio 85:15. This ratio minimizes the emission of greenhouse
gasses.
Disadvantage ethanol:
- Ethanol is produced from corn and sugarcane but all these are crops that need
to be grown in farms. Ethanol is a wanted product, it must be produced in a
large scale this requires acres of land. This could lead to destruction of natural
habitats for plants and animals.
- The most important ingredient in making ethanol is corn. If the demand for
ethanol fuel skyrockets, the price of corn would also shoot up and that would
affect the costs of ethanol production and food prices.
