The Emission of Greenhouse Gases and Air Transport - Essay Example

How safe is the Biodiesel for Air Transportation The globe is anticipating a shift from the traditional fossil fuels to alternative energy sources. The motivation to embrace such a change emanates from the current environmental challenges posed by fossil fuels. The emission of greenhouse gases has proved to be a gigantic challenge to reckon with when making choices pertaining to energy sources. The air transport industry has also considered embracing the change from petroleum diesel to the new-emerged biodiesel. This paper will evaluate the safety of using biodiesel in air transportation. Significance of Air Transportation Critics have challenged the probability of Air transport being the best mode of transport despite the many advantages attributed to it. Irrespective of this, this form of transport is of great significance because it has offered the globe a fast and reliable connectivity. The industry has introduced realms of possibilities. Traversing continents takes a few days or hours depending on the choice of flight connectivity. Air transport is very crucial for global trade especially trade surrounding perishable goods. Tourism is an additional sector that is only a possibility because of air transport. Tourism is an economic stronghold in many nations and contributes immensely to economic growth. Air transportation makes it is simpler for people to import and export culture. In the past, this critical sector has relied on the use of petroleum diesel for its engines. Despite the numerous technological changes that surround the aviation industry, the industry has persisted in its dependence on fossil fuels. However, the recent environmental concerns about the emission of greenhouse gases by fossil fuels, and the resulting consequences have compelled experts to embark on the search for reliable and cleaner sources that promise both economical and environmental sustainability (Pandey 34). Fossil fuels have threatened the environment with the uncontrollable emission of greenhouse gases and hydrocarbons into the environment initiating and enhancing global warming. The search for alternative energy sources has identified biodiesel as a reliable energy source. More importantly, future prospects indicate that biodiesel will be a reliable source to drive the aviation industry. Analysis of the potential benefits of biodiesel presents a promising future. Compared to fossil fuels, biodiesel releases zero percent of sulfates while fossil fuels release a high percentage of these (Metz 30). Moreover, with biodiesel, the aviation industry has the assurance of 78 percent less carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Such immense reduction of carbon dioxide has been the central focus of many researchers in the recent past. Intensive research has revealed the different cycles of fossil use and biodiesel use. In the fossil use case, each step involves the release of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere (Pandey 56). However, the cycle does exhibit any possibility of recycling in the atmosphere. On the contrary, fossil fuels bring a new supply of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere from the ground. On the other hand, biodiesel use exhibits a possibility of recycling. Sources of biodiesel include feedstock from oils, plants, and algae. Plants utilize carbon dioxide that is available in the atmosphere for the manufacture of carbohydrates that are very crucial for metabolism. Extraction of biodiesel from plant feedstock can produce either first generation of second generation biodiesel. Although the processing and use of the biodiesel in aviation releases carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, it does not destruct the carbon dioxide cycle because the amount released becomes critical for the growth of more plants (Ellman 120). Replacing petroleum diesel used in the aviation industry with biodiesel will serve to eliminate the additional release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere from fossil fuels. This will reduce the 78 percent of carbon dioxide introduced into the atmosphere by fossil fuels. From an environmental perspective, such an initiative will play a significant role towards environmental conservation. Moreover, that replacement will lower the release of carbon monoxide into the atmosphere by fifty one percent. The continued dependence on fossil fuels in the aviation industry has contributed immensely to global warming because of the excessive hydrocarbons released into the atmosphere. The use of biodiesel promises to reduce the emission of hydrocarbons by sixty seven percent (Metz 46). With such an impact, it becomes evident that biodiesel has the potential of reversing the global warming trend that has posed a threat to mankind. In addition, biodiesel has exhibited the possibility of reducing the release of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons into the atmosphere. With the current global concern about the mortality rates resulting from cancer, reducing the presence of these cancer causing hydrocarbons will ensure a safer environment for mankind. The introduction of biodiesel as an alternative energy source has not come without resistance. Although it presents multiple benefits, critics have expressed concerns on the safety levels of its use in the aviation industry. Such safety concerns have been the driving force for rigorous research on biodiesel safety (Ellman 67). Preliminary reports revealed that through the continued use of fossil fuels, the aviation industry accounted for one percent of all the carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere through man‘s activities. With the need for a vast airline connection, it becomes evident that the percentage would increase. Future prospects of the potential growth in the industry reveal that the carbon dioxide emission will increase immensely. The industry has the determination to increase its services in order to contribute positively to economic growth. Therefore, the aviation industry expressed its commitment to opt for safer fuels that would half its carbon dioxide emission by 2050. Unlike other sectors that have had many energy sources to choose from, the aviation industry had not had a choice. The potential of biodiesel seems to present the only opportunity for change. Research into the safety of biodiesel has exhibited a collaboration of a higher standing. Many airlines, shareholders, environmentalists and governments have joined forces with the aim of ensuring that the industry can identify the safest and most reliable biodiesel (Ellman 80). Different airlines have indulged in rigorous trials of biodiesel. Getting a biodiesel that has the potential of replacing the current jet fuel needs the development of a project that can function effectively. Organizations such as Air Transport Action Group (ATAG) have embarked on test flight trials since 2008. Many of the these organizations have acknowledged the potential of biodiesel as a viable aviation fuel. This is from the positive impact such contribute to the organizations. However, there has been a debate on the best choice between first generation and second generation biodiesel. Scholars have endeavoured too find a long term justification to end this debate. First generation biodiesel emanates from plants and presents and introduces a new form of competition into the ecosystems. As the current situation is, there has been an over-exploitation of the available land in a bid to meet the rising food demand. Currently, the globe is facing a food crisis, and a threat that the globe will not be able to have the growing population properly fed. The fact that planets form part of the feedstock used to produce biodiesel . There are concerns that if the globe focuses on introducing a continued use of biodiesel, then the growth of plants for use in its production will compete for the diminishing land used for the growth of food crops. On this basis, specialists have preferred second generation biodiesel than first generation biodiesel. Therefore, experts searching for alternative jet fuel have concentrated second generation biodiesel (Metz 60). Second Generation Biodiesel Contrary to first generation biodiesel, second generation biodiesel promises a higher level of sustainability. This is because its production does not rely on the use of valuable resources that the globe relies on for survival. Moreover, there is the feasibility of mass production of the resources used in second generation biodiesel. Second generation biodiesel includes jatropha, camelina, algae, halophytes, and bio-derived oil. Since these resources prove to be highly sustainable compared to the feedstock such as sugarcane, corn and rape seed, that are used for human consumption as food (Jansen78) . Research has revealed that jatropha seeds contain 30 to 40 percent of the oil. The fact that jatropha can grow in varied environmental conditions introduces a new realm of possibilities. Such features translate into the possibility of growing the plant in any region. This means that different centers of processing of biodiesel can exist increasing the supply. Camelina promises an equal measure of sustainability because it is a high lipid plant. The growth of camelina for this purpose can exploit the availability of unplanted land after the growth of wheat since it is a rotational crop. Therefore, it offers farmers an opportunity of intensifying the crop base whiled presenting numerous economical benefits (Ellman 78). After processing and extraction of oil from the plant , the remains serve as chicken feed. The discovery of algae as microscopic power plants offers the most feasible and sustainable option in biodiesel production. The fact that algae can grow in different habitats such as marine conditions, deserts and other inhospitable areas makes mass production a great possibility. Moreover, algae utilize carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in their autotrophic processes. Therefore, mass production will strike a balance in greenhouse gases. Algae exhibit faster growth than all the other resources with a potential of producing biodiesel. Experts reveal that a square kilometer of algae can produce biodiesel fifteen-fold compared to other biodiesel crops (Jansen 65). Other researches have revealed that halophytes also exhibit the potential feedstock for biodiesel production. These can grow in salty marshes, and saline conditions, presenting a reliable source of biodiesel feedstock that does not compete with food crops. Apparently, petroleum diesel is the only available fuel used in aviation. The search for an alternative energy source will culminate in the production of a second generation biodiesel that offers a practical solution. This is the case because there is need for compatibility between the jet fuel in use today and the alternative energy source. Rigorous trials have been underway since 2008 with the objective of testing the safety of aircrafts flying with jet fuel replaced by biodiesel. The tests have analyzed the technical implications of biodiesel on the takeoff , engine operation during different flight operations and landing. As mentioned above, the cooperation existing between all the stakeholders in the aviation sector has made it possible for extensive research by different airlines and manufacturers (Jansen 89). Moreover, these experts have analyzed the aircrafts after landing in order to obtain comprehensive data on the safety of biodiesel. According to the current reports, biodiesel has presented practical and safe application in the aviation industry. From the available findings, second generation bio-diesel does introduce the need for modification procedures on the aircraft. After processing , in cooperation of biodiesel in jet fuel does not introduce technical challenges. The direct use of biodiesel in the aviation industry exhibits a high level of practicality compared to the challenges that have emerged in other sectors. Moreover , introducing biodiesel in the supply chain of jet fuel appears to be easier. These evidences of reliability, sustainability and practicality have motivated the industry to consider the establishment of biodiesel processing centers in different parts of the globe. According to future prospects, it is possible that aviation biodiesel will be cheaper and easily available (Ellman 45). The emission of greenhouse gases has proved to be a gigantic challenge to reckon with when making choices pertaining to energy sources. The air transport industry has also considered embracing the change from petroleum diesel to the newly emerged biodiesel. Air transport is of great significance because it has offered the globe a fast and reliable connectivity. The industry has introduced realms of possibilities. The search for alternative energy sources has identified biodiesel as a reliable energy source. More importantly, future prospects indicate that biodiesel will be a reliable source to drive the aviation industry. Analysis of the potential benefits of biodiesel presents a promising future. According to the current reports, biodiesel has presented practical and safe application in the aviation industry. Contrary to first generation biodiesel, second generation biodiesel promises a higher level of sustainability. This is because its production does not rely on the use of valuable resources that the globe relies on for survival. Work Cited Ellman, Louise. The Future of Aviation: First Report of Session 2009-10. London: Stationery Office, 2009. Print. Jansen, Roland A. Second Generation Biofuels and Biomass: Essential Guide for Investors, Scientists and Decision Makers. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2013. Print. Metz, Bert. Climate Change 2007: Mitigation of Climate Change : Contribution of Working Group Iii to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007. Print. Pandey, Ashok. Biofuels: Alternative Feedstocks and Conversion Processes. Kidlington, Oxford: Academic Press, 2011. Print. Read More