Our Current Uses of Ethanol

The technology to add Ethanol to petrol as a mixture has been around for many years in the petrochemical and automobile industry. Currently Ethanol is being used as a fuel in many products including lawnmowers and the latest cars, but petrol is still the major fuel for many engines in today’s society as it is cheaper to produce and buy. 

Although, when Ethanol is mixed with petrol as a fuel for cars, it takes the role as a kind of fuel extender that not only helps to conserve petrol but to help reduce green-house emissions. With existing technology, ethanol can be mixed with petrol to about twenty percent without needing any modifications of the car’s engine or the design.

Governments all over the world have encouraged the use of petrol mixed with Ethanol as a fuel alternative for cars. In the Australia, petrol with a ten percent yield of Ethanol, more commonly known as 10-Ethanol petrol, is now common at most fuel outlets. Another plus to our current usage of mixed petrol is that the ethanol used is completely renewable when made from various biomass (mainly corn and grain crops).

But as always, if it looks too good to be true, than it probably is. Many arguments are being made against the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel, claiming the negative side effects of its production. One of the main side effects of our current usage of ethanol as a fuel comes in the form of food. As explained in the first blog post, corn and grain crops are used in the process for making renewable ethanol. Many farmers and agricultural workers are turning to raise these crops instead of what they usually grow. Because of this, other crops that they usually grow drop in production therefore raising their price to everyone else.

Morals and ethics also come into play during the production of ethanol and henceforth its use as an alternative fuel. Since the materials used to make ethanol are also used for food for humans, many issues are raised to whether these crops can be put to better use. Many people live in poverty and have scarce access to food sources. The crops used in the production of ethanol could instead be used to help provide food to those who need it most.

In today's society, the current usage of ethanol as a fuel is most commonly seen as a positive change towards living in a green society. Although most people who are not chemical and petro-chemical engineers do not know about the negative side effects, I still believe that our current usage of ethanol as a fuel is the first step in making the society we live in more economically stable as well as a lot more greener.