How will the world power the cities of tomorrow?

The United States alone uses almost 20 million barrels of oil every day, and along with coal and natural gas, it provides 85% of of the energy used around the country, according to the federal Energy Information Administration. While these sources are finite, what options are there after fossil fuels start to run out? Alternative fuels are sourced from non-fossil resources. Biofuels are a type of alternative fuel, and are sourced from agriculture or the byproducts thereof, making them inherently sustainable. Replacing so much energy is no easy task, and some organizations are taking preemptive steps to prepare for the inevitability of an oil-free society.

Ordinary gasoline used by cars is already powered in part by natural sources. Ethanol, which makes up about 10% of gasoline, is sourced almost entirely from corn. The US Departments of Agriculture and Energy report that about 36% of 2016 US corn production went towards the refinement of ethanol, a larger percentage than that which goes to food production. Being organic, ethanol spills and other such accidents do not pose as significant of threats to the environment as oil spills. Additionally, the production of corn and sugarcane for the refinement of ethanol can potentially offset the carbon emissions made from its use.  

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reports 10% ethanol in gasoline actually reduces fuel efficiency by an average of 3%. In addition to the reduction of fuel economy. However, opponents of ethanol cite a Nature study of vehicles in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which found ethanol powered vehicles release more harmful ozone producing compounds into the atmosphere than gasoline powered ones.

On November 30, 2017, the Trump administration signed a continuation of the Renewable Fuel Standard, which mandates the refinement of 20 billion tons of corn into ethanol. Whether or not ethanol is the fuel of the future, the continuation of the mandate shows a willingness by the government to look towards alternatives to fossil fuels.

Despite being by far the most common biofuel, ethanol is not the only promising alternative fuel. A variety of fats and vegetable oils, when correctly processed and sent through a proper engine, can emulate the effectiveness of gasoline.

Biogas is produced from the decomposition of organic waste in an airtight environment, and has a higher energy density than gasoline. This means that when allowed to be exploited in an equal environment, biogas would theoretically produce more energy than gasoline. Arguably the most promising aspect of biogas is that it is produced in large amounts in landfills.

The main obstacle holding back the usage of biogas is the lack of ability to contain it. According to the University of Florida, Biogas is comparable in raw energy capacity to natural gas, which is the most commonly used fossil fuel in the United States on a day-to-day basis. The main difference between the two is that natural gas is found in large underground pockets, which can be easily tapped and exploited. On the other hand, landfills and their contents are irregular, which makes the speculation and collection of gas from said dumps difficult.

Many people take alternative fuels into their own hands. This was taken to the extreme in 2008, when cosmetic surgeon Craig Bittner converted two cars to run on human body fat, which he sourced from liposuctions. Bittner claimed to have gotten the same amount of mileage from a gallon of his “lipodiesel” as a gallon of gasoline. However, due to the illegal nature of his experiment, Bittner was forced to close his business.  He later fled to South America to avoid prosecution. For the time being, humans will not be able to power their cars with their own mass.

As corporations and countries alike strive to become more environmentally friendly, the alternative fuel industry is trending upward. While other, more pressing issues may be considered more important in the short term, the world is never ready for another energy crisis.