Transportation and distribution of future energy: Biofuels

Abstract

Biofuel is a natural resource and has a significant attraction worldwide for many applications, including transportation vehicles, house and industrial heating and electricity production in power stations. It is reported that this fuel can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase US energy independency and provide an alternative energy to fossil fuels. The uncertainty of petroleum price and political instabilities makes biofuel more attractive and appealing for USA now. In order for biofuels to be a more viable replacement for petroleum based fuels, problems related to its transportation and distribution bust be solved. The transportation and distribution options should be inexpensive, fast and sparsely spread through consumer demand points. In this paper, we review the current status of transportation (e.g., pipeline, railroad or ship) and distribution (e.g., truck) options for biofuels. The goal for follow on research will be to improve upon the current status through recommendations for refinery location and new transportation infrastructure. This will be accomplished via modeling, simulation and economical analysis.