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Alternative Fuels: A Key to Reducing Air Pollution Quality air is essential to maintain life on earth. Unfortunately, the quality of air we breathe today has been deteriorating; it now poses grave threat to humans and the environment. Studies of Metro Manila’s air quality revealed that a major bulk of its pollution load comes from motor vehicles. Compared with the stationary (industries) and area sources, the two other identified sources of pollution in the metropolis, pollution resulting from vehicle emissions increases more rapidly, and its effects are more prevalent and adverse to public health, particularly among the young and the elderly. The factors that cause vehicles to emit pollutants are many and varied. One of these is fuel quality. For decades, the country has exclusively depended on imported fossil fuels - diesel and gasoline - to run our motor vehicles. While we are not dismissing the benefits these fuels have contributed to our economic development, current studies also show their adverse effects on public health were as great as the economic gains we had, if not greater. For this reason, the government is continually on the look out for ways to upgrade our fuel quality to approximate international standards. But, at the same time, it is also aggressively exploring cleaner alternative fuels in light of pressing environmental problems of air pollution and climate change. 1. What are alternative fuels? Alternative fuels are fuels commonly referred to as replacement for petroleum-based fuels like diesel and gasoline. They are considered “cleaner” in the sense that they yield substantial energy supply with less impact to the environment. Some of these are agriculture-based and therefore renewable. The view that vehicles contribute the most to air pollution and climate change in the metropolis because they emit carbon dioxide heavily has made the government put top priority to four alternative fuels with potential use in the transport sector. These are compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), biodiesel and alcogas. 2. What is compressed natural gas? CNG is a natural gas comprised mainly of methane, although it also contains small amounts of propane and butane. It is produced during the winning of crude oil or directly from natural gas fields. When subjected to low temperatures, it turns into liquefied natural gas or LNG. While natural gas is still a fossil fuel, CNG is nonetheless considered a better alternative to diesel and gasoline because it is the cleanest burning alternative fuel (therefore, less pollution and vehicle maintenance) and has higher heat content. A study made on dedicated natural vehicles (these are vehicles that run on 100% natural gas) indicated the following advantages over gasoline-fed vehicles: a. reduced
exhaust emission of carbon monoxide (CO), non-methane organic gas (NMOG),
oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and carbon dioxide (CO2); 3. What is liquefied petroleum gas? LPG is a mixture of propane and butane, produced as a by-product during the oil refining process or when the propane and butane are extracted from natural gas. The prospect of LPG as a transport fuel substitute in the country is great. LPG is reportedly used in over four million vehicles in 38 countries worldwide. Second, LPG supply infrastructures are already in place, with more than 150 supply points nationwide and estimated combined storage capacities of the country’s nine major suppliers of around 110,000 metric tons per month. Third, the refueling process is simple and cheaper.4. What is biodiesel? Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil or animal fats. An example of biodiesel is coconut methyl ester or is more popularly known as cocodiesel. The interest in biodiesel as an alternative fuel for motor vehicles lies in its distinct qualities as being biodegradable and renewable. Compared with conventional diesel, it has higher lubrication, burns cleaner because it is oxygenated and locks carbon dioxide in a closed circuit. It can be used in any conventional diesel engine without any need for modification. Another plus factor for biodiesel is that it can create new market opportunities for our farmers. 5. What are alcogas, al-gas, alco-diesel? These three, alcogas, al-gas and alco-diesel, are collectively named alcohol fuel blends. Alcogas is a blend of 10-15% anhydrous alcohol and 85-90% gasoline. Al-gas is a blend of 40% hydrous alcohol and 60% gasoline plus an additive. Alco-diesel is a blend of hydrous ethyl alcohol and diesel fuel.
ENERGY UTILIZATION
MANAGEMENT BUREAU
Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs). n.d. Department of Energy - Energy Utilization Management Bureau. Cruz, Rico O. 2001. Coconut Biodiesel: A Simple Response to Ease Environmental Degradation Problem and the Energy Crisis. A paper presented to the National Conference on Alternative Sources of Energy: Towards an Environmentally Sound Energy Future held at the Asian Development Bank, Mandaluyong City on October 22-24, 2002. Melhuish, Charles. 2002. Lessons Learned in Reducing Emissions from Mobile Sources. A paper presented to the LPG/CNG Vehicles for a Cleaner Tomorrow in Metro Manila on October 23-24, 2002 at the Asian Devel- opment Bank, Mandaluyong City. Natural Gas Vehicle. The Clean Shift. Convension from Diesel to Natural Gas. n.d. Department of Energy - Energy Utilization Management Bureau and Philippine National Oil Company. Peredo, Constante Jr. 2002. LPG Supply and Facilities in the Philippines. A paper presented to the LPG/CNG Vehicles for a Cleaner Tomorrow in Metro Manila on October 23-24, 2002 at the Asian Development Bank, Mandaluyong City. Shell Gas.
2001. What is Auto LPG? A paper presented to the National Conference on
Alternative Sources of Energy: Towards an Environmentally Sound Energy
Future held at the Asian Development Bank, Van Der Steen, Ir. Marcel. 2002. LPG and Natural Gas. Emissions from Road Vehicles. A paper presented to the LPG/CNG Vehicles for a Cleaner Tomorrow in Metro Manila on October 23-24, 2002 at the Asian Devel- opment Bank, Mandaluyong City www.hangin.org.
Exploring Alternative and Cleaner Transport. www.emb.gov.ph
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