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Clearing the Air on Biofuels
From 1 April 2008, petrol pumps across New Zealand will be delivering biofuels into Kiwi cars. What does this mean to us and our cars, and will it actually do anything to slow climate change? Biofuels take carbon from the atmosphere (in the plant growing process) and release it back when the fuels are burned. Fossil fuels release ancient carbon that has been locked away in oil, gas and coal for millennia thus adding to the levels of carbon dioxide that are blanketing the earth and trapping heat in our atmosphere. This is what makes fossil fuels so unhealthy for the planet and makes biofuels a potentially significant part of the complex equation to slow climate change. There are two main types of biofuel; ethanol is an alcohol extracted from plant material through a process of fermentation and distillation; biodiesel is produced by chemically altering plant or animal oils to product a usable fuel oil. However, rather than clearing the air, the growing range of biofuels on offer is doing more to muddy the waters. Many people are more confused than ever about whether biofuels will really make that much difference and suspect that they are in some way connected with increasing food shortages around the world. It’s certainly true that not all biofuels are created equal. Not all Biofuels are equal
Corn derived ethanol so favoured in the US arguably has a minimal impact on emissions reduction. The environmental cost of production is high in terms of the fossil fuels needed for herbicides, pesticides and actual extraction. Then there is the problem of scarcity of resources. Demand for corn as a biofuel ingredient is squeezing supplies of corn for human and livestock food. Brazil has a much longer history with biofuels as a mass market fuel option. Spurred on by the OPEC oil embargo of the 1980’s, Brazil’s dictator of the time set in place a range of heavy subsidies for ethanol production plants. Since then Brazil has developed a range of biofuel options from ethanol only cars, through to the mixed fuel “Flex” cars. The key advantage of Brazil’s sugar cane biofuel is the high sugar content of the cane, which makes fermentation quicker and easier. However, Brazil is also experiencing environmental pressures with a growing amount of land given over to cane production, reducing the availability of land for other food production purposes. The method currently preferred in Europe is biodiesel produced from soy or canola plants. The down-side of this approach is the low per acre yield which makes the resulting biodiesel more expensive than mineral diesel and hence less attractive at the pump! Locally, we produce biofuels from a number of sources. Waikato corn and South Island oil seed are both being considered. Being a big diary producer, New Zealand can also source bioethanol from the lactose in whey, a dairy by-product. Biodiesel will also be produced from either vegetable oils or tallow (the animal fat by-product from our meat industry). Once produced bioethanol will be mixed to our petrol stocks at the rate of somewhere between three and ten percent. Biodiesel will be added at the rate of five percent. In theory you shouldn’t need to do anything to your car as of the 1st April next year. However there are some suggestions from the Ministry of Transport. • Check your vehicle handbook or contact the local manufacturer’s representative to check that there are no issues with using biofuels in your vehicle. • Check your fuel tank for water. You may need to clean the tank • Make the first fill a big one as biofuels will absorb any remaining water • If you have an older car, get your mechanic to check the fuel tank, hoses and seals before your first fill • Check for fuel leaks in the first few weeks. • Fill your car in the area you are likely to be driving in – fuels are mixed for the local conditions • Check the fuel filter after the first few weeks as bioethanol cleans the tank which can lead to a dirty filter. • Always buy your fuel from a reputable provider displaying the EECA biofuels label • Keep your car well-tuned and serviced regularly • If you have an older diesel vehicle you should consider getting your tank and fuel system flushed out by a mechanic before your first fill. • Swapping between the biofuels mix and back to straight fossil fuel is just fine, as is mixing the two. With these steps in mind, the only difference you should experience is a sense of mildly eased conscience at making a small improvement to your carbon footprint. For more information see: Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority http://www.eeca.govt.nz/renewable-energy/biofuels/index.html Ministry of Transport http://www.transport.govt.nz/biofuels-440-index National Geographic article on Biofuels http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/2007-10/biofuels/biofuels.html 
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