In theory biofuels should be carbon neutral, but in reality they are not.Why is this?
Question
In theory biofuels should be carbon neutral, but in reality they are not. Why is this?
Solution
In theory, biofuels should be carbon neutral because the carbon dioxide they release when burned is offset by the carbon dioxide absorbed by the plants used to produce them. This creates a closed carbon cycle where no additional carbon is added to the atmosphere.
However, in reality, biofuels are not completely carbon neutral due to several reasons:
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Land Use Change: Often, natural ecosystems like forests and grasslands are cleared to make way for biofuel crops. These ecosystems store large amounts of carbon, and when they are cleared, this carbon is released into the atmosphere, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
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Fossil Fuel Use in Production: The production of biofuels involves several steps, including growing crops, harvesting them, transporting them, and converting them into fuel. Each of these steps requires energy,
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