Ethanol from corn uses more water than any other biofuel
by Michael Smith
Yet another nail has been hammered into the coffin of corn ethanol and probably not too soon either.
According to findings by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, the water requirements to produce corn ethanol are significantly higher than producing non-irrigated biofuels, hydrogen generated from renewable energy, or petroleum or diesel fuel.
In other words, corn ethanol is not very good for the environment, and that aside from the fact that water is becoming a rather scarce resource and more than likely the next one which war will be fought over (again).
The researchers compared the amount of water withdrawn (used and returned to the source) and the water consumed (water not returned to the source) per mile traveled in a typical car when powered by gasoline, diesel, corn ethanol, soy-derived biofuels, hydrogen and electricity and obtained rather interesting results:
According to the findings it is irrigation and not the biofuels themselves that are the problem. Though, as far as many of them concerned, the emission, though they are not what is being discussed here, appear to be worse and more harmful than those from gasoline and diesel. However, here are the findings:
Petrol and diesel, non-irrigated biofuels, hydrogen and electricity from renewable resources: <0.15 gal water/mile consumed water and <1 gal water/mile withdrawn water;
Hydrogen and electricity derived direct from the US grid (currently mainly fossil fuel and nuclear power): 2-5 times more consumed water and 5-20 times more withdrawn water;
Irrigated biofuels (corn ethanol): 28 gal water/mile consumed water and 36 gal water/mile withdrawn water;
Soy-derived biofuels: 8 gal H2O/mile consumed water and 10 gal H2O/mile withdrawn water.
This, I believe, is yet again a case in point that we must get away from the infernal combustion engine, regardless of what fuel is being used, including fuel cells, and find another way of transportation, personal private transportation, I mean here.
Water is too precious a resource to be wasted in this way and, if other research is to be believed, the emissions from most biofuels are worse than those from oil based fuels. Hence we must have another close look as to how we expect to get around.
Too many trips are made needlessly by motorcar anyway. There is no need to start up the car only to drive a quarter of a mile to a mile down the road to get the newspaper or a pint of milk. That can be done walking or cycling. But it would appear that we have, the great majority at least, especially in the UK and the USA, have become too lazy to walk or cycle. No wonder so many of us in the developed world are becoming obese.
Time for a rethink, methinks.
© M Smith (Veshengro), November 2008
<>
36 gallons of water per mile
