Publications, Reports and Books
Quick Guide to BioFuels
Biofuels can power Indy cars, automobiles, and airplanes as well as trucks and buses.
Yet they are hotly debated:
Do biofuels help slow global warming or contribute to atmospheric CO2?
Will biofuels snatch food from the mouths of the world’s poor?
Are rainforests being decimated as biofuels reduce global biodiversity?
Can we even afford biofuels?
One answer is easy: plants (biomass) are a potential alternative to the world’s unhealthy addiction to fossil fuels, and especially to oil. The timeline of oil depletion be dangerously short. Mankind needs solutions for when the oil runs out as it eventually will. This book’s ten chapters explain how to best use that important know how.
This is a concise and uncomplicated history, status and outlook for the biofuels agenda that is applicable for layman as well as the industry insider. The information presented here on this imperative topic is beneficial to everyone, whether you’ll be financing biofuels, producing it or just pumping it into your fuel tank.
Author: Dr. John Mousdale
Published by BioPlan Associates, Inc. January 2010
ISBN 978-1-934106-17-4
Chapter Contents
- The Global Oil Crisis—”Peak Oil” now or soon?
- What is, what isn’t a biofuel?
- Why are there so many biofuels?
- What impact will biofuels have on the total fuel market?
- Must the “Food or Fuels” continue to be an issue?
- What is happening around the world in biofuels?
- How will biofuels impact our lifestyle and economies?
- Oil companies: How have their positions over biofuels changed?
- The Energy Landscape: What happens today, tomorrow, in the next 50 years?
- Self Help: What can an individual citizen do?
- We are at a global energy crossroads today. We face challenges related to worldwide energy demand, greenhouse gas emissions, limited fossil fuel resources, and concerns regarding energy security.
- The public is increasingly beginning to embrace the concepts of environmental and economic sustainability.
- In this emerging and turbulent milieu, there are more questions than answers, and certainly no silver bullet solutions.
- There is broad consensus that renewable sources of plant and algal biomass could supply our future needs for energy, and materials.
- Many researchers and practitioners feel that a productive, vibrant and sustainable bio-based economy is not only possible but very likely in the near future. The success of such a bio-based economy will depend on various intertwined forces, including government policies, science and technology advances, agricultural and fuel infrastructure, public acceptance, and market dynamics.
Reviews
“Doctor Mousdale provides a fine survey of the state-of-the-art in biofuels production coupled with insightful looks at the potential and need for expansion.” Dave Rinebolt, Exec. Director, Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, Author: Turning Manure into Gold: Converting Agricultural Waste to Energy.
“Should be a mandatory read for all politicians and journalists before they comment or write about biofuels.” Giles Clark, Editor, Biofuel Review—a primary news resource for the Biofuels markets
“We are at a global energy crossroads today. We face challenges related to worldwide energy demand, greenhouse gas emissions, limited fossil fuel resources, and concerns regarding energy security. Energy supply will be a massive global challenge. This book provides straight answers to the questions regarding the science, technology, engineering, and economics of biofuels, and will help citizens to become better informed about this important topic that will be increasingly relevant to our future.” Dr. Bobby Bringi: President and CEO of Michigan-based MBI International, for bio-based technology development; scale-up and commercialization.