Analysis of Alternative Fuels - Report Example

Alternative Fuels Alternative fuels are a wide range of substances and materials, apart from conventional fuels, that can be used to produce energy for similar uses like the conventional fuels. Fossil fuels are the most common of the conventional and non-renewable sources of energy (DiMascio 14). However, this does not imply that all non-renewable sources of energy are fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are named so because they were formed from animal and plant remains buried millions of years ago and specific examples include petroleum oil, propane, and coal, some nuclear materials like thorium and uranium, and coal. On the other hand, alternative fuels are in five key forms of renewable energy sources which include biomass, water, solar, geothermal and wind power (USEIA 1). The key characteristics that set conventional fuels aside from the various alternative fuels are the non-renewable and carbon emission aspects. This paper will show how and why alternative fuels are the better sources of energy. Fossil fuels, unlike most alternative fuels, are exhaustible. Generally, alternative fuels are not petroleum-based. This means that it is possible to sustain the alternative fuel sources because they can be regenerated (USEIA 1). Inherently, in comparison to engines that use diesel and gasoline, those using alternative fuels have lower emission since alternative fuels have fewer toxic contaminants (AACOG 1). The use of vehicles that run on alternative fuels is not as adverse on the environment, quality of air and global warming as compared to conventional fuels. This is because the start and evaporative emissions in alternative fuels are reduced significantly. In this context, the transport sector serves as a practical example because, as an industry, it is the source of harmful emissions that is growing at the fastest rate. For example, 40 percent of the fossil petroleum consumed in the US in 2012 was imported, and the transport sector alone used 75 percent of the nation’s total petroleum consumption (AFDC 1). This gives another disadvantageous aspect to the use of conventional fuels. Apart from the transport sector being a large contributor to pollution, most of the petroleum reserves in the world are geographically in countries that are politically unstable. Even a basic analysis will show that not only the US, but any other nation that depends on fossil petroleum will always be subjected to price spikes and recurrent disruptions in supply of the commodity (AFDC 1). Therefore, a direct means to increased energy security will be reducing the overdependence on oil imports and shifting to hybrid electric vehicles, which have proven to consume less fuel because their electric drives improve efficiency. The benefits of relatively low levels of emission and pollution can be realized by switching to alternative fuels rather than conventional fuels. The regulatory tools that are currently in place have had their focus on traditional air pollutants. However, with the comparatively little pollution that alternative fuels contribute and the harsh regulations, efforts to address the largely industrial sources of emission any further can only yield minimum emission decreases at high costs to the economy and industries (AACOG 1). On the other hand, vehicles that run on alternative fuels (biodiesel) will provide considerable benefits in air quality at much lower costs. In terms of composition, biodiesel is made from renewable sources, from either vegetable oils or animal fats. The first advantage is that the resources are easily and cheaply available and they include palm, sunflower, soybean, coconut, peanut, olive, and corn plants (DiMascio 63). The biodiesel obtained from the chemical reaction of an alcohol such as methanol and the oils and fats after being filtered out of their hydrocarbons is either used on its own or alongside pure diesel. Regardless of the mixture ratios, the combustion of biodiesel always releases fewer pollutants than conventional fuels because of its more efficient and cleaner burning qualities. Then, another form of advantage is in the fact that biodiesel does not contain sulfur. This aspect places it at an even more advantageous position in comparison to the ultra-low sulfur diesel that was developed to reduce the impacts of emissions on global warming, because sulfur cannot be eliminated entirely from regular diesel. Further, another advantage linked directly to the local availability of the sources of alternative fuels is that apart from reducing the reliance on the foreign and exhaustible oil reserves, developing domestic sources of alternative fuel will promote domestic growth (AACOG 1). Additionally, recycled products can be used to produce biodiesel and ethanol, which will serve a supplementary role in initiatives of waste elimination. In comparison to diesel and gasoline fuels, alternative fuels are associated with fewer environmental, health and safety hazards that result from oil spills. Air, for instance, is heavier than natural gas, enabling it (natural gas) to dissipate much faster should a leak occur. On the contrary, diesel and gasoline spills will result in water and soil contamination, with additional combustion risks because of their lower points of ignition (DiMascio 86). Still with focus on the transport industry, vehicles that use alternative fuels have heavy-duty tanks and closed fuel systems, which enhance safety features because they can absorb crash impacts better than conventional vehicles. In conclusion, alternative fuels are less harmful to the environment due to their lower emissions and are easily available from local resources. Natural gas that has been compressed and liquefied is cleaner than conventional fuels (DiMascio 74). In addition, it can be produced domestically, which is a means of promoting domestic economic growth. Vehicles that run on alternative fuels are versatile and suitable for multiple applications in the transport sector that is currently the largest consumer of conventional fuels. Further, they are available commercially from vehicle manufacturers and offer great cost saving opportunities in terms of operating and maintaining as compared to conventional diesel and gasoline vehicles. Natural gas will save car owners up to 30 percent on costs of fuel, while the maintenance aspect comes cheaper because of the cleaner burning of alternative fuels, requiring less frequent change of oil (AACOG 1). Finally, by being renewable sources of energy, alternative fuels are the best countermeasure against the exhaustible nature of fossil fuels. Works Cited Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG). Benefits of Alternative Fuels and Vehicles. 2011. Web. Alternative Fuel Data Center (AFDC). Benefits and Considerations of Electricity as a Vehicle Fuel. Web. 2013. DiMascio, Felice. Extraction of Carbon Dioxide from Seawater by an Electrochemical Acidification Cell. Washington: US Naval Research Laboratory, 2010. Print. US Energy Information Administration (USEIA). What is renewable energy? 2013. Web. Read More