Latest comments posted about Indonesia: the biofuel blowback on ChinaDialogue en-gb http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1370-Indonesia-the-biofuel-blowback http://staging.chinadialogue.net/images/cdlogo.gif http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/1370-Indonesia-the-biofuel-blowback Palm trees can absorb carbon dioxide from the air. Let’s assume the absorption amount of carbon dioxide at one ton which equals the amount of carbon dioxide from burning of organic materials. It means that the planting and burning processes haven’t increase the carbon dioxide. But burning of fossil fuel will produce net increase. The biggest problem from biofuel burning is that growing the plants release great amount of carbon dioxide which is stronger greenhouse gas. Sat, 01 Dec 2007 21:18:11 -0500 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1370#comment-5367 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1370#comment-5367 Palm oil makes diesel fuel. How does THAT save carbon-dioxide emissions? It doesn't. The amount of CO2 a diesel engine produces is dependant almost entirely on the load on it: a two megawatt diesel generator will use around 350 litres an hour. A truck motor of the same power won't be quite as efficient because it operates at variable speeds. CO2 emissions from a litre of diesel = 695 grams x 0.99 x (44/12) = 2,522.85 grams. Diesel made from palm oil will produce slightly more CO2 than the above calculation based on diesel from fossil oil. Because diesel fuel is used extensively in agriculture and transport to harvest it. Oh, and did I forget? It will cost nearly twice as much per litre. So palm oil production is all about keeping oil companies in business, not reducing CO2. John McGhie Sun, 07 Oct 2007 09:52:30 -0400 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1370#comment-4477 http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/summary/1370#comment-4477