Seminar Bioenergi di IPB Bogor (23 Nov 2009)

Biofuel give lower impact on greenhouse gas emissions compared to those of fossil fuels. Bio fuel is the only alternative fuel to have successfully completed the health testing requirements. It is also determined that biofuel degrade more quickly and completely than fossil fuel, which produce poorly degradable undetermined intermediates. Toxicity studies show that no mortalities and few toxic effects on rats and rabbits with up to 5000 mg/ kg biofuel. However, other factors should be taken into account, especially the effects from land use change which have potential to cause even more emissions than would be caused by using fuels alone. When considering the total amount of gas emission, it is therefore important, to consider the whole production process and what indirect effect process may occur. These include : emissions from growing plant for biofuel, emissions from processing the plant into bio fuel, emission from transportation of biofuel to the gas station. Other factors maybe significant but not taking into account : the efficiency of biofuel compared with fossil fuel, emissions from land use change. Other negative effects are : deforestation, monoculture farming, damaging ecosystem and biodiversity, shrinking wildlife population and other social problem.