The possible use of ethanol as a replacement for petrol Essay

The possible use of ethanol as a replacement for petrol - Essay Example Ethanol is a type of alcohol that can be made using crops such as sugar beets, wheat or corn. As a fuel additive, ethanol boosts octane and substantially reduces toxic carbon monoxide emissions. Ethanol is not necessarily less expensive to produce than gasoline and would not be cost competitive without government incentives, but proponents of the alternative fuel point to other reasons to produce and utilize it. "It could be profitable for farmers to grow bio-fuels [at a time of high oil prices]. The market for bio-fuels such as ethanol is driven by the need for security of the energy supply and the recognition that greenhouse gas emissions are causing global warming,† said Margaret Beckett, environment secretary (Harvey, 2005). Ethanol has been demonstrated that it has a less severe impact on the environment than standard petrol as it releases carbon dioxide (CO2) when burned rather than carbon monoxide. As it expels fewer pollutants than petrol, it is also less dangerous to public health. Because the ethanol molecule contains oxygen, it allows the engine to more completely combust the fuel, resulting in fewer emissions. Most cars can run very well with up to 10 perc ent of low-emissions ethanol mixed in with their fuel. Doing so can also improve engine performance. From the economic point of view, it is thought to be good for the development of disadvantaged rural areas by promoting agriculture and manufacturing industries which creates jobs. â€Å"Furthermore it can help to reduce the dependence on oil imports and it may be regarded as a means to promote advances in biotechnology, particularly if one thinks of all the research that is going on in the biomass-to-ethanol sector. Ethanol has been promoted because it has a positive net energy balance that means that the energy contained in a tonne of ethanol is greater than the energy required to produce