CO2 emissions produced during the burning of hemp biodiesel are reabsorbed via photosynthesis. Its relatively short life cycle enables crop rotation to aid soil and benefit winter cereal crops. Palm oil is a commonly produced biodiesel fuel type. It is relatively cheap to produce and has a fuel yield of over gallons per hectare. However, it produces enormous amounts of CO2 and is linked with the destruction of the rainforests and their associated wildlife. In , the Natural Climate Change journal wrote that palm oil plantation expansion would contribute over million metric tons of CO2 by the end of the year.
In , a single land clearing exercise of Kalimantan oil palm plantations emitted around million metric tons of CO2.
That is the equivalent of what 28 million vehicles emit in a year. The damage caused by certain biofuel crops has given the entire practice a bad name. Even today, there is a strong anti-renewable energy sentiment in certain parts of America and the wider world.
There is a lot of misinformation about biofuel in general, as well as hemp. For instance, some allege that ethanol production threatens waterways as nutrients from farming seeps into our lakes. It is also falsely suggested that ethanol raises food prices even though the corn used in it is feed corn rather than the corn we consume as food. Research shows hemp is a viable biofuel and an efficient renewable energy source. According to Professor Richard Parnas, who led the study, those growing hemp could produce enough fuel to power their entire farm using the seed oil.
Ultimately, hemp seeds are a viable option for biofuel production. Hemp has a high fuel yield and a short growth cycle. Also, hemp can grow on infertile soil and is highly resistant to pests and diseases.
Biodiesel made from the plant already meets clean air regulations. It is also a much better economic and environmental option than other biofuel crops. Hemp has been legal in several nations worldwide for a generation.
However, perhaps the end of industrial hemp prohibition in America will be the catalyst for a new hemp biofuel revolution. WayofLeaf use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
Written by Tiannah Pedler, M. Related article. Table of Contents. Related Articles. The pros and cons 0. How Is Hemp Plastic Manufactured? Explaining the process 0. Hemp vs. So why was there not a single mention of this miracle crop, that, in addition to being able to be used as fuel, can also be used as paper, cloth, converted into plastic and is a rich food source containing high levels of protein?
Why is hemp off the biofuel menu? With recent reports downplaying the possibility of biofuels as a solution to climate change, Giulio Sica wonders why there has been no mention of hemp as an alternative crop. Why has hemp been ignored as a biofuel?
Photograph: Corbis The Royal Society, the European Commission and the UK government have all managed, in the last few days, to take the wind out of the sails of the biofuel industry, publishing reports that suggest biofuels could be causing more harm than good, the crops not being as environmentally friendly as first thought, with the Commons environmental audit committee calling for a moratorium on biofuel targets until more research can be done.
That plant is hemp. Pearson responded: Research into the potential of hemp as a biofuel crop suggests it is not currently competitive compared to other sources of biomass. However, hemp does have a number of high-value end uses.
We might some future day, many milennia down the road, be able to mine metals from other moons, or planets. They often will believe everything they read and are not well read. Then the misinformation is spread as fact, and there is no changing their minds.
Btw, in North Carolina there is a strong movement of using recycled vegetable oils convereted to biofuel. I have worked as a project facilitator in an engineering firm that dealt primarily with ethanol producers across the midwest. During the time I worked in this position, a major ethanol producer was receiving money to produce ethanol from cellulose. Over a period of 6 or 7 years the taxpayers of this country provided millions of dollars to a facility in Iowa to perfect a fermentation process to produce ethanol from biomass profitably.
What makes anyone think that somehow, if farmers are allowed to grow industrial hemp that it will become the feed stock to produce an appreciable amount of biofuel for our automobiles? The free market will see if hemp can be a viable feedstock for biofuel.
If it can, people will demand it as a feedstock, and farmers will make money providing it. You plan to use the seed as a base for bio-diesel fuel? There is not enough seed to make that economically viable for starters.
I have read that the engines would have to be reconfigured to use hemp bio-diesel. The ethanol engines could not safely use hemp bio-diesel. Hemp biofuel could be a key part of reducing our dependence on fossil fuels. Post Views: 51, Tags: environment , hemp plastic , hemp sustainability , sustainability. Ministry of Hemp Ministry of Hemp is America's leading hemp advocate. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Latest Comments Michael Armijo says:.
November 3, at pm. KB Lewis says:. June 15, at pm. Hernan cortez says:. June 11, at pm. Randy Amundson says:. February 19, at pm. Sterling says:. January 8, at pm. Mark A Scialdone says:. January 2, at pm. Tom Stanley says:. September 23, at am.
0コメント