Biogas

Posted by Krzysztof Lis on May 13, 2008

Biogas is gaseous alternative fuel. It is produced when biodegradable matter (biomass) is broken down biologically in the absence of oxygen, in a process called anaerobic digestion. Because of that, biogas is considered a biofuel. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »

Biodiesel advantages?

Posted by Krzysztof Lis on May 9, 2008

I read today an article about some advantages of using biodiesel. I must say that I can’t agree with all the enthusiastic claims stated there.

Biodiesel is inexpensive.

This is not true in every case. In Poland you can buy petrodiesel for 4.29 PLN/liter (close to 7.4 $/gal!) and vegetable oil (in small amounts) for more than 3.00 PLN/liter (more than 5.1 $/gal). WAIT! There is more to read… read on »

Environmental impacts of wood gas

Posted by Krzysztof Lis on May 8, 2008

In this article we’ll discuss all the environmental impacts of wood gas usage. Can wood gas be considered as a clean and fully renewable biofuel?

Is wood gas a biofuel? Is it renewable?

It sure is, because it is made from renewable feedstock – wood or any other biomass. If it’s made from some other biomass like grass or rice husks, it’d probably be called producer gas though.

Is wood gas a clean fuel?

In most cases, burning wood gas produces almost none harmful substances.

Wood gas combustion produces carbon dioxide, the most important greenhouse gas. But since the wood gas was made from renewable feedstock (biomass), the carbon dioxide cycle closes. It is a commonly accepted rule that combustion of biomass does not produce extra carbon dioxide, because the carbon bound within biomass was taken from the atmosphere by the plants. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »