12.4: Final Thoughts on the Use of Biomass for Fuel Generation

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12.4 Final Thoughts on the Use of Biomass for Fuel Generation

We have explored many uses of biomass to generate fuels, from use in electricity generation through combustion, to several conversion technologies to make ethanol, biodiesel, and fuels that are very similar to petroleum-based fuels like gasoline, jet fuel, and diesel fuel. I also wanted you to have the opportunity to see what is still being researched and what has been commercialized. While currently, due to the cost of crude oil being low, biofuels may not be as competitive economically, they show great benefit environmentally, especially when renewable methods are used to harvest and generate the fuels. You looked up several very interesting articles related to biofuel generation and use. Read articles on biofuels with a critical eye; you now know enough about biofuels so that you can be a more critical reader. I hope that you enjoyed the class.