Pressure builds for biofuel use

[pedro san pedro]

Article: (http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16692453%255E911,00.html)

By BRONWYN HURRELL
23sep05

OIL companies and petrol retailers have been put on notice to increase the use of biofuels, such as ethanol, after a taskforce found Federal Government goals for the use of renewable fuel would not be met.

Prime Minister John Howard yesterday announced a package of measures to "restore consumer confidence" in biofuels. The Biofuels Taskforce report, released yesterday, found the government's production target of 350 megalitres by 2010 would not be reached.

Mr Howard said: "In a climate where petrol prices are likely to remain high, it is important to encourage greater use of biofuels.

"I don't want . . .(this) to be seen as some kind of quick response.

"It's not, but it's another way of making a practical contribution over time to ease the situation."


Mr Howard has convened a meeting of petrol bosses next week where they will have to show how they plan to increase renewable fuel use. Ethanol was dogged with controversy when some service stations were adding more than the 10 per cent standard - a practice linked to engine damage.

But the government has moved to restore consumer confidence through measures including encouraging users of Commonwealth vehicles to purchase 10 per cent ethanol blend.

[Commie Rat]

something more then 10% ethanol fuels is what is needed now,

bumping it up to 50% would still be a mediocre move towards a green stance

[rioters bloc]

gah

ethanol is not the answer


people really just need to try and find other alternatives to driving all the time. sometimes its absolutely necessary but thats so rare. i haven't been driven anywhere in about 3 months now, and i try and avoid public transport even.

this is kinda random, but scanning over the page i just saw 'howard' and 'green' and was reminded of the time that both the liberals and the greens voted to put in parking meters on roads. the liberals because they wanted a user pay system and the greens because they wanted to discourage people from driving.

funny how two totally conflicting political perspectives can want the same goal, but for totally different reasons.

[Commie Rat]

Driving is need for good transport and other commecial applications in such case hydrogen is probably good.

i like public transport i use it more then my parents car,

but yes walking and biking are better altogether

bikes rule!

[JamesMac]

Good, alternate fuels.

What we need is a alternate that will move two tons of hay from San Angelo to Lubbock (200 miles), have the basic vehicle not cost anymore that a current heavy duty pick-up, have the emission(s) if any close to zero and the fuel costs equivalent to diesel before the freedom fighters started targeting tankers and be able to make the trip there and back in one day.

You get that system to the farmers and you will have all sorts of support from 'fly-over' country.

[I Watch The Watchers]

The problem with bio-fuel is that much of what's being produced depends on petroleum for irrigation, harvesting machinery, processing, and transportation (because it's not already in your car). This means that you need to use a whole lot of oil to produce an equivalent volume of bio-fuel and the ratio isn't that favorable. Getting biomass from fast food places works because all you need is vegetable oil but there isn't enough for everyone. I once had to dispose of six months worth of mostly-biomass-sludge from a Pizza Hut I was working at. There was no time to discus saving it for fuel as it was spilling all over the floor. But there probably wasn't enough to power one car for that same six month period. So under current conditions bio-fuel is not at all a large scale solution, as far as I can see. Maybe one day. But really, let's just not drive cars. Trains work fine and anyone who can aford a car can afford comfortable shoes and a bus pass. If you can't afford shoes then... CLASSWAR NOW! DEATH TO CAPITALISM! (etc.)

[Clutch]

http://www.abc.net.au/brisbane/stories/s1466787.htm

Here is a (small) list of cars available in Australia that will have problems running on ethanol. Too much ethanol in a car's engine without proper calibration causes it to run lean and cause engine damage. Ethanol also attacks certain types of plastics, destroying fuel pump housings, fuel lines and other parts of the delivery system. I can't use ethanol in my car because it has a diesel engine. :(

[barret]

Originally posted by I Watch The [email protected] 9 2005, 02:21 PM
The problem with bio-fuel is that much of what's being produced depends on petroleum for irrigation, harvesting machinery, processing, and transportation (because it's not already in your car). This means that you need to use a whole lot of oil to produce an equivalent volume of bio-fuel and the ratio isn't that favorable. Getting biomass from fast food places works because all you need is vegetable oil but there isn't enough for everyone. I once had to dispose of six months worth of mostly-biomass-sludge from a Pizza Hut I was working at. There was no time to discus saving it for fuel as it was spilling all over the floor. But there probably wasn't enough to power one car for that same six month period. So under current conditions bio-fuel is not at all a large scale solution, as far as I can see. Maybe one day. But really, let's just not drive cars. Trains work fine and anyone who can aford a car can afford comfortable shoes and a bus pass. If you can't afford shoes then... CLASSWAR NOW! DEATH TO CAPITALISM! (etc.)
These cars wouldn't run necessarily on old veggie oil. They would extract the oil from various oil producing plants, such as sunflowers. I beleive the answer is in propane/ natural gas. Unlimited quanitites are possible because it can be derrived from landfills at large amounts, it burns a hell of a lot cleaner, and is more efficient.

[I Watch The Watchers]

I've read that we couldn't ever get enough of it and that it's very difficult to extract and transport. If there has been some progress in those areas that you know of I'd be glad to hear. :)