Filed under: Kwentong Labas | Tags: Jobelle Lyka Magno, Philippine Biofuel Industry
by Jobelle Lyka Magno
August 16, 2010
For a long time, Philippines has always depended on merely fossil fuels as one of its major sources of energy, as what other countries do. These are fuels such as coal and petroleum that are obtained from decayed ancient plants and animals. However, there is only limited supply of these fuels and their prices became unpredictably high. In addition, they contribute a big portion in the amount of greenhouse gases that absorb and trap the sun’s heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, making the world a whole lot warmer.
Thus, environment-friendly and low-priced alternative energy sources are now widely considered. Biofuels are one of them. These fuels are derived from living things such as plant oils and therefore, renewable. These are substitutes for petroleum fuel such as vehicle gasoline.
University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) Prof. Rex Demafelis presented his latest study entitled “Waste Management in the Emerging Philippine Biofuel Industry” on June 15, 2010 at SEARCA Drilon Hall, Laguna. According to Demafelis, a chemical engineering professor, the two main kinds of biofuels in the Philippines, namely biodiesel and bioethanol, aim not just to secure energy supply but also, to lessen fuel importation, and to increase the country’s economic activities and generate jobs especially for the farmers who work for the raw materials.
This year, the Biofuels Act of 2006 (Republic Act 9367) requires two percent (2%) blending of biodiesel and five percent (5%) blending of bioethanol. Based from Prof. Demafelis’ study, these made the mandated production capacity of biodiesel in UPLB become thrice than in UP Diliman, and the need for bioethanol increase into 223 million liters though the country’s total production capacity is only 69 million liters.
The production of biodiesel demands processing of various plant oils including grape seed, sunflower, jatropha, and palm oil. This encourages the development of other related industries especially the coconut industry in the Philippines where most of the country’s biodiesel come from. And, because it is substituted or combined with petroleum diesel fuel, it contributes on the global effort to lessen toxic greenhouse gases.
On the other hand, bioethanol is made by fermenting either starch or sugar from sugarcane, molasses, corn and other plants. Just like biodiesel, it also helps in decreasing harmful gases in the environment. According to the Biofuels Philippines, an online information site produced by the government about biofuels, major vehicle producers signed the World Wide Fuel Charter which states that it is safe to blend a maximum of ten percent (10%) bioethanol in gasoline to be used by regular cars without modifying their engines.
Biofuels, in general, promise many benefits for mankind and the environment. However, they also face a difficulty in handling their high-strength organic wastes. Good thing, according to Prof. Demafelis, technologists have already found the solution and now, they turn the wastewaters into either liquid or solid fertilizers, and dry the wastes for fuel.
At present, UPLB focuses on small biodiesel production systems or village-scale production systems that would cater to the capacity of farmers or cooperatives, and help them be more competitive against the big commercial ones.
Meanwhile, for the bioethanol production, UPLB will collaborate with the two ethanol distilleries in the country and the upcoming two other big ones to research on the use of sweet sorghum to complement with sugarcane since Philippines is facing sugar shortage nowadays.
The biofuel community is still doing its best to have technologies or innovations that would reduce production costs for biodiesel and bioethanol to achieve one of its main objectives – to produce low-priced and environment-friendly fuel for the benefit of many.
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