The Advantages of Using Bio Fuels Instead Of Fossil Fuels in Saudi Arabia (Essay Sample)

The Advantages of Using Bio Fuels Instead Of Fossil Fuels in Saudi Arabia
Name:
Institution Affiliation
The Advantages of Using Bio Fuels Instead Of Fossil Fuels in Saudi Arabia
Introduction
Bio fuel is derived from plant or animal matter and exists in two main types: bioethanol and biodiesel. The two are usually blended with petroleum fuels but they can also be used on their own therefore completely substituting the fossil fuels. Bio ethanol is used as a replacement for gasoline and is made by fermenting the sugar and starch components of plant materials using yeast. Biodiesel on the other hand is used as a replacement for diesel (Whiting & Author, 2009). The following report highlights the state of affairs in Saudi Arabia in relation to the country’s energy needs, the use of biofuels and the subsequent advantages of its usage.
Energy Requirements in Saudi Arabia
Oil is the primary source of energy in Saudi Arabia. According to energydelta.com over 60% of the country’s energy requirements is fueled primarily by oil. The charts below illustrates this phenomenon in respect to the years 2009 and 2010.
 Chart 1 (Energydelta.org, 2012) Chart 2 (Energydelta.org, 2012)
Trends for Oil Demand
Furthermore, an analysis of the demand for oil in Saudi Arabia shows/indicates a gradual upward trend over the years. This is unaffected by the upward surge of the prevalent global oil prices.


Graph 1 (Tverberg, 2013)
According to the Tverberg (2013), this trend can be attributed to the fact that the government offers subsidized prices on its oil products which shield Saudi Arabians from the effects of oil price fluctuations.
Generation of Biofuels
Initial technologies developed for the production of biofuels involved the complete consumption of crops. This has however proved problematic because of the huge quantities of plants required to produce efficient amounts of biofuels. As a result research has led to the development of alternative techniques that lead to more fuel production with relatively minimal effects on the environment and crop production (biofuels.co.uk, 2009).
Using the SABA project the Saudi Arabian government seeks to develop the Algae Based Bio refinery (ABB) technology which explores the use of microalgae in the production of bio oil. Based at the kingdom’s coast waters, the research aims to vamp up the volumes biofuel production. This will ensure that its production is adequately caters to the energy requirements in the country while also freeing up land space for agricultural crops in the hinterland (Zafar, 2014). The figure below illustrates the project’s conceptual framework.


Visual 1 (Zafar, 2014)
Advantages of the Use of Biofuels
By focusing on Bio fuels, Saudi Arabia is trying to lower its greenhouse emissions. Researchers consider bio fuels as carbon neutral. This simply means that the amount of carbon produced is directly proportional to that absorbed by the plants. Additionally, because they are produced from organic matter, biofuels are bio-degradable and thus less toxic to the environment. This is an ideal characteristic especially in the event of oil spillage (cardirects.com, 2013). In contrast, fossil fuels produce numerous harmful emissions when they burn out; Carbon dioxide, Carbone monoxide, Water vapor, Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides and Solid waste (Eia.gov, 2013).
Biofuel is also sustainable because it can be regenerated. It is produced from grown plants and even organic wastes. Despite being more expensive than fossil fuels, this alternative energy source has positive economic implications.
Conclusion
Based on the discussion above, biofuels are very favorable because they have a lower level of greenhouse effect, are renewable and biodegradable. It is therefore commendable that the Saudi Arabian government is making significant steps to promote the production of this much cleaner alternative energy source.
References
Biofuels.co.uk. (2009). Biofuel Production | Information on the bio fuel production process.
Retrieved 1 August 2...