Politicians and businesses have embraced biofuels to promote energy independence and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. But rising demand for biofuels has caused some unexpected environmental and economic side effects: prices for staple foods like corn have risen sharply, while rainforests are being cleared to make way for new farmland.
Germany wants to reduce dependence on coal, oil, and nuclear power, but renewable energy is limited in many parts of the country. Many farmers are discovering biogas as an alternative.
Investment in biofuels has attracted criticism lately. Diana Profir, head of the Green Power Market Development Group Europe at the World Resource Institute, talks about the do's and don'ts.
Correct. Ethanol production from sugar cane in Brazil is very efficient. Sugar cane grows fast and leftovers can be used to fire the distillation process.
Biofuels can be produced from a number of crops and plants. Corn, rapeseed, palm oil, sugar cane, and jatropha are among the top five. But how efficient and sustainable are they?
