Effect of Biofuels on Environment and Sustainable Development

Abstract

Nowadays world faces crisis caused by growing energy demand. Threat of climate change caused by the increased emission of CO2 from burning of fossil fuels exerts pressure on wider use of renewable energy resources. It is believed that one of important resources of renewable energy are biofuels. In the paper we present that in the most cases it is not true. Wide use of biofuel, especially in European Union, poses threat to sustainable development of today's world. It is going to be presented that the production of biofuels from agricultural crops is, in many cases, unsustainable due to the fact that it reduces the access to food by devoting cultivatable land to crops designated for the production of biofuels. What is more, it has also negative influence on the environment, namely it reduces biodiversity, pollute water and, what is curious, not in all cases the use of biofuels leads to the reduction of CO2 emission.

Mixing of Biomass and Coal in a Static Mixer as an Example of Technological Solutions Involving Implementation of Renewable Energy Sources

“…The cultivatable land to crops designated for the production of biofuels and it has also negative influence on the environment, by reduces biodiversity, pollute water. Authors also highlighted that not in all cases the use of biofuels leads to the reduction of CO 2 emission [22]. Critics around the world point at high investment costs, the need to support wind and solar power stations by conventional power plants, ecological and health hazards, and doubtful effect on total CO 2 emission [22][23][24].…”

“…Authors also highlighted that not in all cases the use of biofuels leads to the reduction of CO 2 emission [22]. Critics around the world point at high investment costs, the need to support wind and solar power stations by conventional power plants, ecological and health hazards, and doubtful effect on total CO 2 emission [22][23][24]. Nevertheless, the CBA (cost-benefit analyses) indicate many benefits (environmental, economic and other, non-conventional), which surpass the costs of initial support for renewable energy sources development (being gradually reduced per generated energy unit) if appropriate policy steps are taken [25,26], and further technological improvements, especially technologies of converting the transportation sector and the introduction of flexible energy system technologies are crucial [27].…”

“…Moreover Poland will be one of the main bioenergy markets in 2020 [18].Energy production from renewable energy sources is considered more natural environment-friendly than in case of production from conventional sources (fossil) due to the reduction of harmful impact of the power industry on natural environment, primarily through limited emission of noxious substances, in particular greenhouse gases. However, the issue of renewable energy production is highly controversial and is criticised, also as regards sustainable development, both on an international and local (national) scale [21,22]. Cao and Pawłowski [22] showed that the production of biofuels from agricultural crops is, in many cases, unsustainable due to the fact that it reduces the access to food by devoting…”

“…However, the issue of renewable energy production is highly controversial and is criticised, also as regards sustainable development, both on an international and local (national) scale [21,22]. Cao and Pawłowski [22] showed that the production of biofuels from agricultural crops is, in many cases, unsustainable due to the fact that it reduces the access to food by devoting…”

Hydropower Generation on The Nysa Klodzka River

“…The past several years have witnessed a growing interest in energy in the context of environmental protection and climate change [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. The best proof of it is to be seen in the recent EU climate and energy summits.…”