Advantages And Disadvantages Of Alternative Fuels Environmental Sciences Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Alternative Fuels Environmental Sciences Essay The worlds energy consumption has been increasing progressively since the industrial revolution (SEP, 2009). Global population is continuing to dramatically rise and the increase in economic development, particularly in China and India, over recent decades has contributed to increases in energy consumption (Hillstrom Hillstrom, 2003). Currently, nearly 45 percent of Australias total energy consumption is accounted for by coal, with oil providing approximately 35 percent, natural gas supplying around 15 percent and green power providing just over 5 percent (Hillstrom Hillstrom, 2003). Alternative fuels are stated to be a potentially viable alternative to the use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels contribute to almost eighty percent of the total energy used in the world (Evans, 2007; International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy, 2005). Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources that are limited in their supply and the burning of fossil fuels on a global scale can produce air pollution, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), release significant amounts of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2), and contribute to global warming (Evans, 2007; Shahid Jamal, 2008; Hill, et al., 2006; SEP, 2009). Alternative fuels are considered to have a less adverse effect on the environment, and are stated to be a solution to the problems created by fossil fuels (SEP, 2009). Alternative fuels, such as ethanol, methanol, and biodiesel may prospectively provide an alternative for global fuel requirements. The main difference between fossil derived fuels and alternative fuels is the oxygen content, with alternative fuels having 10-45 wt% oxygen compared to fossil fuels which contain almost none (Gupta Demirbas, 2010). There are however, a number of drawbacks related to alternative fuels which may inhibit them from completely replacing fossil fuels without technological or genetic advancements (U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 1990). Outline This paper aims to examine the advantages and disadvantages of alternative fuels. The discussion will commence by defining a number of relevant terms. The analysis will then consider ethanol and methanol as alternative fuels, including their production. Subsequently, biodiesels and their production will be examined. Following this, the advantages and disadvantages of alternative fuels will be considered. The use and manufacturing of alternative fuels in Australia will then be assessed. Lastly, the main arguments of this account will be summarised. Definitions Alternative fuels are a sustainable form of energy, are fuels that have not derived from petroleum and can include alcohols, biofuels, hydrogen, natural gas and propane (Saddleback Educational Publishing, 2009). They are commonly solid, liquid or gas biofuels acquired from biomass, vegetable oil, or generated from agricultural food crops (Demirbas, 2008; Hill, et al., 2006). A viable alternative fuel must be economical, supply a net energy gain, be beneficial to the environment, and be able to be produced in considerable volumes with limited detrimental impacts (Hill, et al., 2006). The alternative fuels that are currently prevalent throughout the world are ethanol and biodiesel (Vadas, Barnett Undersander, 2008; Groom, Gray Townsend, 2008; Gupta Demirbas, 2010). Ethanol also referred to as ethyl alcohol, and methanol, methyl alcohol, are colourless liquid alcohols, less dense than water, with the chemical formulas C2H5OH and CH3OH respectivley (Baird Cann, 2008). Biodiesel is a carbon-neutral fuel that is a mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (Baird Cann, 2008; Kemp, 2006). Alcohols: Ethanol and Methanol Ethanol is one of the most widely utilized liquid biofuels that can be combined with gasoline to create an ethanol blend fuel, or it can be used in pure form (Gupta Demirbas, 2010; Baird Cann, 2008). It may be derived by fermenting carbohydrates obtained from natural sugars, starches or cellulosic biomass in plants including sugar cane, corn or straw (Gupta Demirbas, 2010; Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004). Generally, this process The USA and Brazil are presently the two major producers of bioethanol (Ragauskas, et al., 2006). In the US, corn is the major primary base for ethanol production while in Brazil, sugar cane is dominant (Brown, 2003). Groom, Gray and Townsend (2008) showed that current fuel yield for corn ethanol was between 1135 1900 L/hectare and that the necessary area of land to meet even 50% of US transport fuel needs was over 157% of US cropland. Methanol Biodiesel Biodiesel is obtained from the oil in a variety of seed plants, a large majority being developed from soybean (Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004; Demirbas, 2008). Biodiesel is currently manufactured around the world in countries such as the USA, Germany and Malaysia (Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004; Groom, Gray Townsend, 2008). Globally, approximately 1.5 million tonnes of biodiesel per year is produced (Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004). In Table 4, it can be seen that current fuel yield for soybean biodiesel was between 225-350 L/hectare and that the necessary area of land to meet even 50% of US transport fuel needs was over 180% of US cropland. Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Fuels Alternative fuels such as methanol, ethanol and biodiesel have numerous advantages and disadvantages regarding environmental and societal impacts. The replacement of fossil fuels with alternative fuels could result in a decrease of CO2 emissions, decrease air pollution and reduce acid rain (Evans, 2007). Additional benefits include sustainability, fuel security, regional development and a decrease in rural poverty (Gupta Demirbas, 2010). The land area required to generate sufficient alternative fuel to meet demands however, may compete directly with agriculture requirements, water use, may cause pollution from the use of herbicides and pesticides, and could result in the destruction of natural habitats and a decrease in biodiversity (Evans, 2007; Giampietro Ulgiati, 2005). In developing countries, the expansion of the alternative fuel industry could increase deforestation, decreasing the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis (Groom, Gray Townsend, 2008). Methanol and Ethanol Advantages There are several advantages concerning the use of methanol and ethanol as alternative fuels. Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is removed by the crop used for ethanol generation, resulting in the process being carbon neutral (Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004). Using ethanol over fossil derived fuels can result in a reduction of CO2 up to 75 percent (Howard Olszack, 2004). Higher densities of ethanol fuel and air can be combusted in an engine compared to petroleum due to ethanols constricted boiling point range and higher latent heat of vaporization (Brown, 2003; Demirbas, 2008). Additionally, higher energy density can be achieved in the engine due to a lower stoichiometric air to fuel ratio (Brown, 2003; Demirbas, 2008).This may produce enhanced engine efficiency and elevated power outputs in ethanol fuelled vehicles when contrasted to petroleum fuelled vehicles. The use of ethanol as an alternative fuel can result in lower pollution emissions compared to fossil fuels, particularly re garding particulates, alkenes, aromatics and carbon monoxide (Baird Cann, 2008). Table 2: Alternative fuel properties compared to fossil derived fuels (Adapted from: Borman Ragland, 1998, pp. 37). Disadvantages There are numerous economic drawbacks to the use of ethanol as a substitute for petroleum-based fuels. Ethanol is still far from being economically competitive when compared to fuels derived from fossil fuels (Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004; Howard Olszack, 2004). Expensive direct costs required for the production of ethanol can include fertilisers, pesticides, irrigation, fuels and electricity as well as machine or equipment maintenance (Vadas, Barnett Undersander, 2008). Fixed costs tend to include land charges, wages for labourers, insurance and depreciation of assets such as equipment and buildings (Vadas, Barnett Undersander, 2008). The economics of ethanol production are very uncertain; its viability depends on the price of crude oil and the world prices of the raw material, for example, sugar (Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004). The production and use of ethanol is not economically competitive at present, suggesting that it is not a viable alternative. There are disadvantages linked to the use of methanol and ethanol as alternative fuels. Ethanol has a lower amount of energy generated per litre combusted than gasoline (Baird Cann, 2008). The use of pure ethanol and methanol is limited in colder climates by their low vapour pressures (Baird Cann, 2008). A disadvantage in using methanol is that it is more toxic than gasoline (U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment, 1990). Erosion, nitrogen leaching and denitrification are also other significant problems related to corn produced alcohols (Vadas, Barnett Undersander, 2008). Environmental degradation is an issue related to ethanol production from crops, which leads to the concern of whether biofuel generation is indeed sustainable for certain crops (Vadas, Barnett Undersander, 2008). Ethanol yield from various crops can vary significantly, and are usually inefficient (Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004; Ragauskas, et al., 2006). The production and use of ethanol does not always provide a sufficient net energy gain and there are adverse environmental effects, indicating that it is not a viable alternative. Biodiesel Advantages There are a number of positive factors when considering biodiesel over petroleum-based diesel. Biodiesel production is deemed renewable (Shahid Jamal, 2008). The fuel itself is generally non toxic and biodegradable (Demirbas, 2008; Shahid Jamal, 2008). The fuel properties of biodiesel are similar to petroleum-based diesel, revealed in Table 2, allowing it to be used in unmodified indirect injection diesel engines with only minor drawbacks (Brown, 2003; Shahid Jamal, 2008). Biodiesel has a higher flash point, also seen in Table 2, meaning that it is safer to transport and store than diesel (Brown, 2003; Demirbas, 2008).The exhaust emissions from the fuel contain considerably less nitrogen and sulphur oxides (Shahid Jamal, 2008). These factors support the idea that biodiesel is an alternative form of fuel; however this does not make it a viable alternative to petroleum-based diesel. Disadvantages There are many limitations related to the use of biodiesel as a substitute for petroleum-based fuels. Biodiesel can achieve an energy ratio as low as three to one (Larkin, Ramage Scurlock, 2004). The production of biodiesel from crops, such as soybean, can result in adverse environmental effects. These can include nitrogen and phosphorus leaching that can lead to the loss of biodiversity and the release of nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas (Hill, et al., 2006). In some countries, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, vast expanses of forests are being cleared to produce oil-palm plantations for biodiesel (Groom, Gray Townsend, 2008). Biodiesel, compared to fossil fuel derived diesel, tends to produce lower power and torque as well as higher fuel consumption (Demirbas, 2008). Biodiesels are not cost competitive when compared to petroleum-based fuels (Hill, et al., 2006). The cost of biofuel tends to vary on a number of factors including the price of crude petroleum, the variabilit y in the crop and the cost of the feedstock used (Demirbas, 2008). The production and use of biodiesel is associated with some adverse environmental effects and it is not economically competitive at present, indicating that it is not a viable alternative. Alternatives Fuels Use and Manufacturing in Australia -sugar cane (ethanol) Conclusion Alternative fuels such as methanol, ethanol and biodiesel have both advantages and disadvantages regarding impacts on the environment and society. At present, commercial biofuel production is a controversial issue that is still relatively new. It is conceivable that biofuels will become a selective alternative to fossil fuels as a source for transportation fuels but not a complete substitute. As oil prices become increasingly more expensive, biofuels do become more economically viable. Biofuels are effective on a small scale basis, but not on a large scale. There are numerous problems currently associated with the manufacturing of biofuels such as the vast amount of land, labour and water required. The development of better second and third generation biofuels would be more effective as they potentially use less land and have a greater chance of being a viable alternative for fossil fuels. Great improvements in current technology, genetic advancements for biomass crops and reduced en vironmental and societal effects could see biofuels become a selective substitute but not a replacement for global energy demands.

Swot of Mamee

MAMEE Double-Decker has many things going for it, among them, a good financial track record, a strong balance sheet, great brands and reasonably good dividend payouts, which definitely makes it worth noting. MOST KIDS PROBABLY KNOW the `blue monster' and most adults have probably met them as well. Fear not as we are just talking about the ever-famous Mamee Monster snack food, which comes mainly in small packets that are consumed daily by its ardent fans. That probably sums up the public face of listed Mamee Double-Decker Bhd, the company which produces this classic snack food. But while the blue monster remains the ever-lovable monster, the company has outgrown it and today, Mamee is actually one of the leading snack manufacturers in the country with a strong presence in the export market as well. And it has certainly more than enough snack food brand names in its current stable, and in noodles and cultured milk production as well. Do Mamee Monster, Mamee Instant, Mister Potato and Sllrrp! Noodles and Double Decker sound familiar? How about Cheers and Nutrigen? These are the company's famous brands, which are likely to strike a chord with most consumers who consume them frequently. Still, the company itself – despite being listed since 1992 – is probably less familiar to investors than consumers. So, it is rather interesting somewhat to know that Mamee is actually a fundamentally strong and healthy company with growth potential as it expands its distribution network further and invests in new potato crisp lines to broaden its range of snacks. This is true for at least local research house, OSK Research, which initiated coverage on the company recently and pegged an RM4. 00 target price for the stock. It cites that Mamee is worth a `BUY' despite the stock having almost rallied 30% of late, citing the current strong sentiment on consumer counters.

Airborne Express case study Essay

Airborne Express, an air express transportation company has succeeded to compete with a few big competitors such as Federal Express and United Parcel Service (UPS) even it does not have funding as much as its competitors. In 1996, it held third position in the industry with 9 percent of the market. Even Airborne is smaller size company compared to its main competitors, it still can survive with the competitive advantage through its resources and capabilities. With some unique resources and core competences, a company may have competitive advantage over its competitors, and this is the way small capital company able to compete with its competitors. Airborne Express is the first and only air express transportation company that owns an airport. Because of the limited control, Airborne has purchased an airline at Wilmington in 1980. Since then, the airport became the hub of the company, and all the operations of the company were conducted here. It is also the biggest privately owned airport in United States. With the ownership of the airport, Airborne is able to control the operations more easily. Besides that, Airborne does not need to pay for any landing or service fees to the airlines company like its competitors. Comparably, Federal Express and UPS own the planes but still need to lease the airport from other party. It helps Airborne to save a lot of costs. Apart from that, Wilmington airport is one of the strategic airports in United States. It means that the place is having a well weather record. For express air transportation industry, weather is a big factor that can affect the daily business operation. If the weather is bad, the shipments will not be sent to the final destination at the promised time. Time is the promise to the customers and it does affect the confidence of a company’s customers. Besides airlines, Airborne also has a complete system of ground transportation. With the establishment of trucking hubs in some places, Airborne able to deliver the shipment that near to the hub using the ground transport. Almost 25 percent of the company’s domestic volume is dealt with ground transport. However, the cost of service by ground transport is not transparent to the customers who assume that the packages are flown. Thus, the charge is same with the air-transported goods. Compare to air transport, ground transportation costs five times lower. From here, the profit margin  has been increased. In the other way, the company also can offer lower price for ground transportation packages. Instead of making more profit, the company can utilize the low cost benefit to compete with its competitors. In 1996, Airborne Express owned a fleet of 105 aircraft. To keep the capital expenditure down, Airborne has purchased only used planes. The planes will be modified to suit its specification for air express transportation. The cost of purchase and modification is $30million lower than purchasing a new plane. Compare to other companies, a big amount of money is being saved by Airborne. Further more, Airborne’s DC-9 and YS-11 aircraft require only two person cockpit crew compared to normal three person crews required in Federal Express and UPS. Labour cost has been saved again. Airborne also have its own maintenance facility in Wilmington. It is the only all-cargo carrier to do so. It can handle most if the maintenance works except major engine repairs. It was estimate that the labour costs of $16 per hour is $49 lesser than the subcontracted labour cost. It was a major source of annual cost savings. Instead of serving all kinds of customers, Airborne decided to focus on serving the needs of high volume corporate accounts. It is because the severe competition and the cost of serving small customers. The company is able to establish scheduled pickup routes and use it as ground capacity more efficiently. Due to this factor, the unit cost structure has been reduced. According to the Airborne executives, their unit cost is $3 lower than its main competitor, Federal Express. Besides that, because of the different consumer behaviors between different groups, the focusing of the service is one of the ways to win a part of market in severe competition. By matching the needs of the groups, the company will have a better chance to win the customers than its competitors. Another aspects that Airborne get competitive advantage is the creation of the only privately certified Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) in United States at its Wilmington hub. In a FTZ, merchandise is tax-free and no customs duty is paid until it leaves. It is a big attraction to the foreign companies. The companies can keep their inventories in Wilmington hub, and the inventories  will be delivered to the destination by Airborne when needed. The local companies that implement Just-In-Time policy will prefer the service very much. It is because the inventories cost will bear by the suppliers that keep inventories in Airborne hub. For foreign companies, not only can satisfy the needs of local customers, but also can save the cost of tax and duty paid. The FTZ is a good factor that will help Airborne to set foot into the international market. However, because of the capital constraint, Airborne still unable to compete with Federal Express and UPS in the international market. Normally, large sizes A-containers are used in the air cargo business. Around $1million per plane is required to install cargo doors to take A-containers. To solve the problem, Airborne has developed C-containers that are six times smaller, and can fit through the passenger doors of the aircraft. The equipment to load the C-containers also about 80 percent less expensive than the equipment needed for A-containers. The shape of C-containers also designed to allow maximum utilisation of the plane space. To prevent other competitors copy the design, Airborne has taken out the patent on the C-containers. Therefore, C-containers seem to be the speciality of Airborne Express. It helps the company to save a lot of costs. It is a long term cost savings because it involves in daily operation. Therefore, it also a long term competitive advantage over the other competitors. Apart from that, through its subsidiary company, Advanced Logistics Services Corp., Airborne is promoting a range of third-party logistics service. It provides customers with the ability to maintain inventories in a 1 million square foot â€Å"stock exchange† facility located in Wilmington hub. The customers can choose to manage the inventories themselves or subcontract to Airborne. In â€Å"stock exchange† service, third party will involve in the instruction for movement of the inventories. It easier the process of the movement of inventories, and also help the customers to minimise inventory holding costs. Airborne is the first and only air express transportation company that provide this unique service. It actually involves a complex system. Therefore, knowledge or human resource is very important in order to develop the system. Since it is the only company, customers who interested  with the â€Å"stock exchange† service will come to Airborne. The unique competence gives Airborne a competitive advantage. Science and technology is developing rapidly in the world. Information system becomes more and more important in the business world. The more developed system a company has, the more competitive advantage it gets. Airborne uses three information systems to help in its daily operation. LIBRA II system is a metering device and computer software that easier the transaction between Airborne and customers. It also lowers Airborne’s operating costs. FOCUS is the main system provided by Airborne and it benefits customers the most. It is a worldwide tracking system that help the customers to track the location their package through Internet link. It increases the company’s reliability and service quality. With the trust on the company, customers will be more confident to give the job. The third system is the Customer Linkage electronic data interchange program. It eliminates repetitive data entry and paperwork by the customers. It also a system that created purposely to benefit its customers. The company also benefits from lowering the costs by eliminating manual data entry. From all the resources and capabilities mentioned above, we could realise that most of the competitive advantages Airborne has over its competitors is through costs reduction. According to Porter’s Generic Strategies Model, Airborne is actually implemented a cost-focus strategy to get the competitive advantage. Because of the lesser capital, Airborne is unable to compete with the giant of the industry, such as Federal Express and UPS. If Airborne can be the cost leader in the industry, it can give a severe competition to the competitors. Besides that, the unique resources such as C-containers and Foreign Trade Zone are also giving core competences to the company. In conclusion, facing the competition from competitors that have powerful funding, Airborne not only can survive, but also get a strong position in the air express transportation industry. A correct and suitable strategy adopted by a company can change the company position. A company, which can fully and smartly utilise its resources and capabilities, it can have  competitive advantage over the other competitors and it really benefits the company a lot.

Why I Am A Physician - 894 Words

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