Article by Joshua Adekane
Biofuel: Description And Leading Countries – Society – Environment
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Biofuels are regarded as an eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels and a new source for economic growth. Brazil is known as the world’s leader, an unusual status for a nation in South America. This is the result of Brazil’s strong commitment to produce an alternative energy.
With Brazil’s success, other Latin American and Caribbean countries are also trying to develop biofuels with the support of groups such as the Inter-American Development Bank. The main producers of sugarcane in the region are Guyana, Jamaica and Barbados.
So far, the most recognized use of biofuels is in ethanol, a gasoline mix of biofuels and fossil fuels (oil). Brazil has developed to a point at which it exports a surplus of ethanol, and the vast majority of motor vehicles are of a flex-fuel design. Furthermore, the original ethanol “recipe” was 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent biofuel, but Brazil gradually has improved the mix to 75 and 25 percent.
Currently, the most widely used biofuel is ethanol, a gasoline mixture of biofuels and fossil fuels. Brazil has come to a point where they can even export their surplus production and most of their cars can use the mix efficiently. They have also succeeded in improving the original recipe from 85 percent gasoline and 15 percent biofuel to 75 percent gasoline and 25% biofuel.
Why it is so important to develop biofuels? Oil and Coal will eventually be depleted by humans in the future. Biofuels are produced from renewable crop therefore it is considered as an eco-friendly source along with solar, wind and geothermal energy. Another advantages is that biofuels emit less carbon dioxyde than fossil fuels.
Brazil’s leadership in Green energy
Brazil became an eco-friendly pioneer with biofuels during the 1970s, at a time when other nations were turning their backs. Ethanol at the time cost three times more than gasoline. Brazil had an edge, with a culture of growing sugarcane rooted in centuries of tradition. Still, government leaders needed to make a massive infrastructure investment that was not always popular, especially during times when world oil prices bottomed out.
The event that would trigger Brazil’s decision to develop ethanol was the Middle East Embargo of 1973. In order to encourage the private sector, the Brazilian government gave large subsidies and tax exemptions. By 1990, Brazil was no longer dependent on other countries for energy. The 1979 Fiat produced in Brazil was the first vehicle to run on ethanol in the world.
Brazil is now considered the expert in biofuel and has started to share its expertise with he rest of the world. They are focusing on helping developing nations in Latin America, the Caribbean and Africa.
Other countries have been inspired by Brazil’s success and are currently investing in their own biofuels with the resources available. For example, Europe is using wheat and sugar beets, Asia is using palm oil and the United States are slowly replacing corn with soybean and switch grass. Great Britain is investigating the development of solid biofuels with manure and trash.
With all their efforts, no other country in the world has managed to find a green, eco-friendly biofuel that performs to the level of Brazil’s sugarcane
About the Author
Ariel Dess specializes in assisting businesses successfully import and export with Latin America. To access to his valuable resources, tips and links, click here suppliers directory
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Joshua Adekane
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