In the search for alternative energies that help us reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, one of these alternatives that has been developed has been bioethanol. Broadly speaking, bioethanol is a type of fuel that is obtained from some types of organic matter, which allows, among other advantages, not needing to depend on oil directly. However, it has uses and advantages that go beyond reducing dependence on fossil fuels. If you want to delve a little deeper into what bioethanol is and what it is used for, continue reading Green Ecology and we will tell you.
What is bioethanol?
Bioethanol is a type of flammable alcohol obtained from the fermentation of certain types of organic material, mainly plant matter with a high cellulose content. Bioethanol can be obtained by fermenting plants such as:
- Sugar cane.
- Cereals.
- The beet.
In this way, these plants can be grown for direct use in this field. However, in addition to being able to produce bioethanol from specially- made plantations , it can also be obtained from organic matter leftovers from other sources, such as forestry waste or cereal waste intended for food .
In this way, we are faced with a source of energy that is renewable , since it is obtained from organic matter that, with correct use and efficient management, could be used without an expiration date.
What is ethanol used for?
Bioethanol has the same uses as fuels that are burned to obtain other types of energy, whether motor or electrical. Thus, bioethanol can be used for transportation or for electricity generation , as well as for heat generation .
In the case of electricity generation, a bioethanol boiler would consist of a space where combustion would take place and a circuit (generally hydraulic) that, when heated, would turn a turbine that would produce electricity. In this way, it would work in a similar way to power plants that generate electricity by burning other fuels, such as biomass, natural gas, petroleum derivatives or coal.
In the automotive industry, bioethanol can be used in the same way as gasoline or diesel vehicles. In this way, it would be a type of fuel that could replace petroleum-derived fuels or, in a less demanding situation, be combined together, which would consequently imply a reduction in the use of fossil fuels.
What advantages does it have over other fuels?
The first thing to keep in mind is that bioethanol produces CO2 when it is burned . Therefore, we cannot be talking about a purely clean energy. However, it is true that the level of greenhouse gases it emits is considerably lower when compared to other fuels such as gasoline or diesel. In fact, the CO2 it emits ultimately comes from the CO2 absorbed by the plant when it was growing, so there are those who consider that, if we ignore the emission of CO2 for its production and transport, the footprint of the combustion of this type of fuel will be neutral as it emits CO2 that has previously been absorbed from the atmosphere.
However, beyond the CO2 emitted during combustion, another factor that must be taken into account when using bioethanol is that, both for its production and its transport, the greenhouse gases produced are considerably lower than when using fossil fuels. This is due to the bioethanol production process itself and to a logistical aspect that oil or coal cannot compete with: bioethanol can be manufactured anywhere. This means that its transport is not so expensive nor does it have such a large CO2 footprint since, if desired, it can be produced locally and used in the same region where it was produced, since the organic matter necessary for its production can come from the remains of organic matter in the same space where it is going to be consumed.
On the other hand, the use of bioethanol leads to a reduction in the waste generated in a locality. Through an appropriate separation and recycling system, much of the organic waste generated by an average household can be used to produce this fuel, which will reduce the final amount of waste produced.
Finally, another aspect that cannot be overlooked is that it has a lower social impact than the use of fossil fuels. If we take into account that bioethanol can be produced in any physical space, the most efficient way to do so is through local production, which, in turn, leads to the creation of jobs in the same environment.
