Question

Your town is considering building a biodiesel power plant. Describe at least two advantages and two disadvantages of this project. Based on these factors would you recommend that they continue with the project or consider other options?

Answer 1

inflation in food price because it competes with food supplies

Answer 2

So, in all likelihood there will be tax break if you have a biodiesel plant. Also assume that you can produce biodiesel efficiently enough you will have a net gain in useable energy. Note that usable is important here as you cannot ever gain energy in a closed system. This means that for each amount of fuel you put in be it gas or bio you get more bio out than you put in. This means that you could become self sufficient. The extra energy in the equation comes from the sun. The down side is that you have to devote land to this and as @imranmeah91 pointed out you will likely drive up the cost of food in the area. Also you have to deal with any waste produced by the biodiesel project.

Answer 3

How about we look at the net carbon produced by the biodiesel process? It is easy to see that any combustion process involving a hydrocarbon will produce \(\rm CO_2\). It is also known that any plant that uses photosynthesis "breathes" \(\rm CO_2\) and "exhales" \(\rm O_2\). Therefore, we can see that the use of biodiesel has the potential to reduce the amount of \(\rm CO_2\) in the atmosphere. This is the major driving force behind an increase in biodiesel and ethanol production.