BIOETHANOL as Alternative Fuel
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Alternative fuels— non-conventional fuels, which can replace traditional, petroleum-based transport fuels like gasoline & diesel. Biofuels can be used in vehicle engines with no major modifications, simple to use, biodegradable, non-toxic, inexhaustible and produced from agricultural resources. |
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Biofuel refers to Bioethanol and Biodiesel and other fuels made from biomass. Biodiesel refers to Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) or mono-alkyl esters derived from vegetable oil or animal fats & other biomass-derived oils. Bioethanol refers to ethanol produced from agricultural crops. |
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| Ethanol (C2H5OH), also called ethyl alcohol or grain alcohol, is a colorless flammable liquid, produced from fermentation of carbohydrates, including cellulose. |
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| 5% minimum ethanol blend to gasoline within two (2) years from the effectivity of the law; 10% minimum blend, two (2) years thereafter. |
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| Anhydrous alcohol has less than 0.3% water. It can be used as an additive to gasoline, creating gasohol. | Hydrous ethanol contains about 5% water. It is used in the beverage industry, and as pure fuel for vehicles with modified engines. |
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Ethanol can be produced from homegrown agricultural crops like: Sugarcane Corn Sweet Sorghum Cassava Among these crops, sugarcane is the most versatile because it offers a |
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- As solvent
- As anti-freeze agent
- As fuel
- As preservative of organic specimens
- In the preparation of pharmaceuticals and esters
- Diluted as a beverage
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The National Biofuels Program (NBP) recognizes the sugarcane industry as the major supplier of feedstock for bioethanol. The industry is currently producing around 10% surplus sugar that could supply part of the Program’s initial needs for bioethanol. Sugarcane provides the highest yield of ethanol per hectare per cropping compared to other crops. |
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¤ To meet the increasing demand for fuel—especially
by the transport sector; |
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| I. Environment & Energy * Non - polluting * Avoids greenhouse gas emissions * Energy-efficient * Higher octane rating
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II. Economy & Development * Dollar Savings * Job Creation * Countryside Development * Reduced Dependence on Imported Fuel— 94% of the country’s total energy consumption is imported. * Insulation from volatility of oil prices * Product diversification and increased farmers income * New industry infrastructure |
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Today’s cars are fully compatible with up to 10% ethanol blend. * Boosts research octane number, (RON) - Ethanol has 106 RON, increasing the blends octane rating by 3 points without additives. * Prevents premature detonation under load, due to ethanol’s high RON. * Makes burning in engine valves more efficient because ethanol burns cooler than gasoline. * Increased power due to higher volumetric efficiency.
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* The minimum economic size for a bio-ethanol plant is 100,000 liters EtOH per day, running for 300 days annually. |
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| Area | Has. | Area | Has. | |
Cagayan Zambales Bataan Pampanga Camarines Sur Balayan Masbate Bogo/Medellin San Carlos Tamlang, Negros Oriental |
7,000 7,000 7,000 7,000 8,000 7,000 8,000 8,000 5,000 7,000 |
Central Palawan Agusan Sur/Norte Lanao del Norte Bukidnon Zamboanga del Norte Maguindanao Sultan Kudarat/South Cotabato Davao Sur Saranggani |
7,000 7,000 7,000 12,000 6,250 7,000 14,000 7,000 7,000 |
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Note: area required of an economic size plant. |
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In addition to existing incentives under other programs, the law also provides the following:
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