• Question: Do I think Biofuel is the solution to our problems or do you think it is just another complication?

    Asked by Livi to Aaron, David, Elaine, Sarah, Zoe on 15 Nov 2014.
    • Photo: David Foley

      David Foley answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      Biofuel has the advantage of being a low carbon source of energy that is compatible with our existing infrastructure. We have learned a lot very quickly about the challenges involved in sustainable biofuel production and as these are implemented it should help biofuel become PART of the answer to our sustainable energy problem in the short term.

      In the longer term however, a growing world population will place heavy demand of the food supply and growing crops to burn them will be seen as an unforgivable waste of farming land. I would therefore predict that as newer energy technologies are developed and our infrastructure is adapted, biofuel may start to drop out of the energy picture.

    • Photo: Sarah Ashwood

      Sarah Ashwood answered on 15 Nov 2014:

      I think biofuel is a sensible alternative at the moment… however it doesn’t fix the long term energy problems. With fossil fuels running low biofuels are a readily available alternative. However as with most things this isn’t sustainable. Increased demand for biofuels will impact on land used for farming and with a growing population this land is necessary to supply enough food.
      We will need to find another alternative. However for the meantime this is a way to ease the issue caused by the depletion of fossil fuels.

    • Photo: Zoe Roberts

      Zoe Roberts answered on 17 Nov 2014:

      I think Biofuel is a step in the right direction. Furthur work needs to be done to fully understand how harness and capture enough energy out of it to be a viable alternative. Also we have to remember that we need food to survive so growing crop and then burning some of it is not a sustainable process.

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