The dual threats of global warming and energy security are triggering unprecedented attention from countries in the history of alternative energy. Among them, ethanol fuel has become a focus. The ethanol fuel industry is rapidly developing globally. On March 9, the two countries, the United States and Brazil, produce and use ethanol globally. The most fuel-laden countries have signed a strategic agreement to promote biofuels. For a time, topics such as "Ethanol has become a global commodity" and "Ethanol OPEC" have become the focus of attention from all walks of life in the world.
U.S. and Pakistan will jointly establish "Ethanol OPEC"
For the United States and Palestine, the signing of the ethanol fuel cooperation memorandum is undoubtedly the "huge event" of President Bush's visit to Brazil. In this regard, the media said that Bush’s behavior in Brazil’s “ethanol diplomacy†was aimed at seeking energy independence.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorim said in Sao Paulo that the memorandum of cooperation for ethanol fuel signed by Brazil and the United States will not only affect the way of energy use in Brazil and the United States, but also affect all countries in the world.
Although officials from both countries are still discussing the specific details of the organization and deliberately keeping a low profile so as not to give the international community the impression of establishing an ethanol price monopoly organization, the Brazilian media still claimed that Bush and Brazilian President Lula will jointly set up “ethanol OPECâ€.
Ethanol fuel proponents hope that Bush and Lula could reach an early agreement on the basic framework of “Ethanol OPECâ€, which will greatly promote ethanol production in Brazil and other countries in Central America and the Caribbean.
For Bush and Lula, the political significance of the strengthening of cooperation between the United States and Pakistan in ethanol fuel is even more important. For Bush, this can correct the negative image that the government does not agree to accede to the Kyoto Protocol and leave it to the world. It can also give Chavez a nail in Latin America.
For Lula, this could constrain the growing hegemony of Venezuela, which is rich in oil resources, in Latin America.
The rapid development of the ethanol fuel industry The famous economist and biofuel expert in Brazil, Prigno Nastari, believes that the outlook for the ethanol fuel industry is bright. In this regard, Brazil is a recognized leader in the world. Brazil is the world’s most recognized “king of ethanol†with an annual output of more than 10 million tons. Brazil took advantage of the sugarcane production and started research on ethanol instead of gasoline. It developed ethanol gasoline for cars in the 1970s.
Brazil and the United States are the two most important countries in the world that produce and use ethanol fuel. Brazil and the United States hope to set standards for the production and sale of ethanol fuels, so that ethanol fuels can also be sold in the international market like oil in the future.
In fact, some countries have long aimed at the “cake†of ethanol fuel. In India, nine states and three other regions have directed the reconciliation of 5% ethanol. Japan also implements a limited ethanol program and looks at ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), a high-octane gasoline blending component with excellent properties. ETBE and ethanol and MTBE are both high octane gasoline improvers. Called Biogas Additives) application program. The Philippine government passed a bill that will gradually substitute bioethanol for gasoline as transportation fuel. The Ministry of Energy of Thailand has decided to ban methyl tert-butyl ether in Thailand in 2007 and decided that since 2008, 91 gasoline sold will be blended with 10% ethanol. Most European ethanol growth is expected to come from the ETBE format. Several MTBE units have been converted to produce ETBE. Other plant conversions plus a small number of new ETBE units are expected to be completed by 2010. ETBE usage is expected to increase to 2.15 million annually. Tons to 2.57 million tons.
“Green fuel†hides big issues at the same time More and more economists, scientists and environmentalists have evaluated the fast-growing ethanol fuel industry: rash production of large-scale ethanol fuels does more harm than good, causing forest destruction and food inflation. The price threatens the basic survival of many people in developing countries.
Brazil’s most famous environmentalist and former parliamentarian Fabio Feldman believes that Brazil’s leading position in the green revolution has serious side effects. "Some sugarcane plantations are about the same size as European countries. This huge monoculture has already affected very important ecosystems," he said. Despite its leading position in biofuels, Brazil is still the world’s fourth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide due to the deforestation of large areas of forest.
Experts believe that there is also a “black†side of ethanol that has a mission to slow global warming. If world-wide demand for ethanol soars, the warming trend may increase. To obtain ethanol, producers must obtain agricultural land and plant large-scale crops for ethanol production. When agricultural land is difficult to obtain, the drive of profits may inflict violations of the Amazon rainforest, Atlantic rainforest, and many precious grasslands and forest lands. The trees on these lands absorb large amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide each year, and sacrifice them for ethanol. On the face of it, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is actually not worth the candle.
In addition, the green role of ethanol is also diluted by many factors. Fertilizers and insecticides are used to grow corn and other raw materials, and gasoline-driven agricultural equipment is used in farms. These actions are essentially related to the consumption of fossil fuels. On the other hand, once the world puts energy production on crops, the most basic definition of crops will be challenged, and the poverty of poor people will also be challenged.
U.S. and Pakistan will jointly establish "Ethanol OPEC"
For the United States and Palestine, the signing of the ethanol fuel cooperation memorandum is undoubtedly the "huge event" of President Bush's visit to Brazil. In this regard, the media said that Bush’s behavior in Brazil’s “ethanol diplomacy†was aimed at seeking energy independence.
Brazilian Foreign Minister Amorim said in Sao Paulo that the memorandum of cooperation for ethanol fuel signed by Brazil and the United States will not only affect the way of energy use in Brazil and the United States, but also affect all countries in the world.
Although officials from both countries are still discussing the specific details of the organization and deliberately keeping a low profile so as not to give the international community the impression of establishing an ethanol price monopoly organization, the Brazilian media still claimed that Bush and Brazilian President Lula will jointly set up “ethanol OPECâ€.
Ethanol fuel proponents hope that Bush and Lula could reach an early agreement on the basic framework of “Ethanol OPECâ€, which will greatly promote ethanol production in Brazil and other countries in Central America and the Caribbean.
For Bush and Lula, the political significance of the strengthening of cooperation between the United States and Pakistan in ethanol fuel is even more important. For Bush, this can correct the negative image that the government does not agree to accede to the Kyoto Protocol and leave it to the world. It can also give Chavez a nail in Latin America.
For Lula, this could constrain the growing hegemony of Venezuela, which is rich in oil resources, in Latin America.
The rapid development of the ethanol fuel industry The famous economist and biofuel expert in Brazil, Prigno Nastari, believes that the outlook for the ethanol fuel industry is bright. In this regard, Brazil is a recognized leader in the world. Brazil is the world’s most recognized “king of ethanol†with an annual output of more than 10 million tons. Brazil took advantage of the sugarcane production and started research on ethanol instead of gasoline. It developed ethanol gasoline for cars in the 1970s.
Brazil and the United States are the two most important countries in the world that produce and use ethanol fuel. Brazil and the United States hope to set standards for the production and sale of ethanol fuels, so that ethanol fuels can also be sold in the international market like oil in the future.
In fact, some countries have long aimed at the “cake†of ethanol fuel. In India, nine states and three other regions have directed the reconciliation of 5% ethanol. Japan also implements a limited ethanol program and looks at ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), a high-octane gasoline blending component with excellent properties. ETBE and ethanol and MTBE are both high octane gasoline improvers. Called Biogas Additives) application program. The Philippine government passed a bill that will gradually substitute bioethanol for gasoline as transportation fuel. The Ministry of Energy of Thailand has decided to ban methyl tert-butyl ether in Thailand in 2007 and decided that since 2008, 91 gasoline sold will be blended with 10% ethanol. Most European ethanol growth is expected to come from the ETBE format. Several MTBE units have been converted to produce ETBE. Other plant conversions plus a small number of new ETBE units are expected to be completed by 2010. ETBE usage is expected to increase to 2.15 million annually. Tons to 2.57 million tons.
“Green fuel†hides big issues at the same time More and more economists, scientists and environmentalists have evaluated the fast-growing ethanol fuel industry: rash production of large-scale ethanol fuels does more harm than good, causing forest destruction and food inflation. The price threatens the basic survival of many people in developing countries.
Brazil’s most famous environmentalist and former parliamentarian Fabio Feldman believes that Brazil’s leading position in the green revolution has serious side effects. "Some sugarcane plantations are about the same size as European countries. This huge monoculture has already affected very important ecosystems," he said. Despite its leading position in biofuels, Brazil is still the world’s fourth-largest emitter of carbon dioxide due to the deforestation of large areas of forest.
Experts believe that there is also a “black†side of ethanol that has a mission to slow global warming. If world-wide demand for ethanol soars, the warming trend may increase. To obtain ethanol, producers must obtain agricultural land and plant large-scale crops for ethanol production. When agricultural land is difficult to obtain, the drive of profits may inflict violations of the Amazon rainforest, Atlantic rainforest, and many precious grasslands and forest lands. The trees on these lands absorb large amounts of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide each year, and sacrifice them for ethanol. On the face of it, reducing greenhouse gas emissions is actually not worth the candle.
In addition, the green role of ethanol is also diluted by many factors. Fertilizers and insecticides are used to grow corn and other raw materials, and gasoline-driven agricultural equipment is used in farms. These actions are essentially related to the consumption of fossil fuels. On the other hand, once the world puts energy production on crops, the most basic definition of crops will be challenged, and the poverty of poor people will also be challenged.