Biofuels, Richard Branson and 747s

In principle, biofuels seem like a really good idea. Rather than relying on fossilised fuel supplies dug up from an exhaustible supply from under the ground, instead grow crops which get processed into usable fuels. Given the situation in Europe where farmers are subsidized not to grow anything, producing fuel which reduces our reliance on petrol from the middle east is surely a good idea.
Plus there's the carbon neutral issue: by growing crops instead of using prehistoric sources of energy, biofuels can be effectively carbon neutral. The only barriers using this 'wonder fuel' are the issues of it solidifing a lower temperatures - making airlines understandibly reluctant to run practical trials of biofuels as a kerosene replacement.

So given all these benefits, surely I should be waxing lyrical about Richard Branson's biofueled airliner, and praising him as a green businessman willing to use some of his fortune to make the world a better place.

Unfortunately, although biofuels seem like a good idea, they're actually a bit of a disaster - both from an environmental and from a humanitarian point of view.

For starters there's the type of biofuel used by Branson in his trial. Rather than relying on the chip-shop recycled waste product (second generation biofuel) Branson's trial is using first generation biofuel - which ultimately would displace food crops, and lead to higher food prices. With people starving around the world, it seems like a nightmare Soylent Green scenario that we're using crops to fuel jet-setting holidays.

Then there's the production - turning the raw crops into a high-tech fuel capable of keeping one engine of a 747 running is a seriously intensive process. A seriously carbon intensive process - these fuels actually produce more emissions than they save.

In fact, with the planned expansion in aviation (10 flights a year anyone?) any saving through running 747's partially on biofuel would be wiped out anyway.

So Branson seems to be in a bit of a pickle. And I haven't even mentioned the climate cost of his little spaceship venture..

For starters

There are lots of technology blogs out there, and lots of green blogs and I'm sure lots of technological-green type blogs out there, but here is mine.

I have a fascination for all things technological, and for all things environmental. I for one, welcome our new robot overlords and look forward to a future that's not quite as disappointing as the present we're living in. Possibly.