Ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol is a flammable, volatile, and colorless fluid that can be used as a substitute for gasoline. Ethanol is produced using a method similar to those used in the production of ethanol. It is derived from different plant materials collectively known as biomass. It is manufactured from plant materials such as sugar cane and corn, which makes it a renewable source of energy (Tallant, 2011). Considering that ethanol can be manufactured from plant matter within a within a short period, is lowers need for additional oil explorations and mining. Congress supports the use of ethanol as an alternative to gasoline as a measure of reducing petroleum imports and supporting farmers. Nonetheless, ethanol is associated with significant disadvantages such the lack of sufficient land to provide enough food for human consumption and energy, and the small of amount of energy derived from the food crops compared to the energy used to produce them.
The use of ethanol as a fuel source has environmental benefits compared to gasoline. It is a renewable source of energy, which means that it does not contribute to environmental pollution. In a world where global warming is a major concern, ethanol is an alternative fuel source that can help reduce global warming. In most case, ethanol is mixed with gasoline, which serves as an igniter. The ration of ethanol to gasoline is 85 to 15, which means that ethanol lowers the carbon footprint of the fuel because it is a clean energy. The impacts of global warming are disastrous because it contributes to rising sea levels, shifting weather patterns, and excessive heat. Additionally, ethanol can also be manufactured from waste products such as fruit skins and wood chip; therefore, it lowers the number of landfills that authorities manage (Tallant, 2011). Ethanol production minimizes environmental damage caused by mining techniques such as fracking that is used to extract fossil fuels from the ground.
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Another benefit of ethanol is that it is cost-effective and easy to produce compared to other fuel sources. The plant material used to make ethanol is found in almost all countries. Countries that grow sugar cane, corn and grain have the potential to produce ethanol. It is economically cheaper to produce ethanol than to explore and extract fossil fuels. Developing countries cannot extract fossil fuels, which makes ethanol a suitable fuel alternative. Therefore, developing countries can focus on production of ethanol instead of relying on fossil fuels that are usually imported.
Ethanol reduces an economy's overreliance of oil imports. Other than saving country money because it is cheaper compared to gasoline, it prevents overreliance on imports, which can be affected by international conflicts or natural disasters. Conflicts in the Middle East have often affected the supply of fossil fuels, which makes the price of gasoline unstable. Finally, the use of ethanol will boost agricultural production because it is the main source of biomass. To guarantee a stable supply of ethanol, more efforts will be directed to the agricultural sector, which will, in turn, lift the economies of many countries (Tallant, 2011).
Despite the benefits, ethanol is associated with some drawbacks. One problem associated with ethanol is used is that no significant amount of energy can be derived from food crops. Competition between the energy sector and the food sector will increase as demand for ethanol fuel increases. Currently, the available land cannot meet the needs of food production and energy. It is ethically wrong to fuel cars with ethanol derived from food crops, while some populations in the world are starving.
Ethanol can also contribute to increases in food prices. The main source of biomass is corn, which is also human food. Increase in ethanol demand will lead to increase in the price of corn. As the process increase, most people will not afford the cost of corn and farmers may be tempted to abandon food production and shift to ethanol production (Brownstein, 2014). The result will be high food process.
Another disadvantage of ethanol is that it is challenging to vaporize. It explains why ethanol is blended with gasoline in fuels such as E-85 and E-10. Starting a car that uses ethanol in cold climates is difficult. E-85, which is the common ethanol blend, has a lower mileage compared to gasoline, but it has the benefit of remaining clean for longer durations (Brownstein, 2014).
Currently, state and the federal governments support the use of ethanol as an alternative source of energy. More specifically, the federal government offers subsidies to enhance production and use of ethanol. These subsidies comprise grants, loans, tax breaks, and loan guarantees. The first effort by the federal government to support the biofuel industry was the Energy Tax Act of 1978, which was in response to the oil crisis of that decade. Additional policies aimed at supporting the biofuel industry include the Biomass Research and Development Act (2000), the American Job Creation Act (2004), the Energy Policy Act (2005), and the Energy Independence and Security Act (2007) (Brownstein, 2014). These policies have increased support to the biofuel industry and also contributed to the consumption of ethanol as a biofuel.
Ethanol represents the most feasible alternative to fossil fuels. The impacts of global warming, which is attributed to fossil fuels will continue to be a concern. Therefore, increased ethanol production will help in mitigating these impacts. However, more research advancements are required to make ethanol production more effective and environmentally sustainable. Efforts should be directed at reducing production and energy costs, reducing emission, and increasing efficiency. Ethanol production and consumption will increase at a fast rate in the foreseeable future due to technological advancements that improve production.
References
Brownstein, A. M. (2014). Renewable motor fuels: The past, the present and uncertain future . Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann.
Tallant, J. (2011). Bio-fuels. Is Ethanol the answer to America’s fossil fuel petroleum energy crisis ? Berlin: GRIN Verlag.
