3rd April 2024
Biofuels are fuels derived from biomass such as plant material, food waste, algae, or animal waste. There are two forms of biofuel –
“Bioethanol is an alcohol made by fermentation, mostly from carbohydrates produced in sugar or starch crops such as maize, sugarcane, or sweet sorghum. Cellulosic biomass, derived from non-food sources, such as trees and grasses, is also being developed as a feedstock for ethanol production. Ethanol can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form (E100), but it is usually used as a gasoline additive to increase octane ratings and improve vehicle emissions.
And “Biodiesel is produced from oils or fats using transesterification. It can be used as a fuel for vehicles in its pure form (B100), but it is usually used as a diesel additive to reduce levels of particulates, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons from diesel-powered vehicles.” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel)
Brazil is the largest producer of bioethanol and the EU is the largest producer of biodiesel.
Both forms of biofuel differ from fossil fuels in that they are produced from organic materials being grown now as opposed to using organic materials that were decomposing millions of years ago.
Both produce greenhouse gas emissions but less than do fossil fuels. Biofuels may be made using only waste materials, but often are made from crops that have been specifically grown for this purpose. This may have the affect of diverting land that would otherwise be used for growing food, or may involve deforestation to create new crop lands.
Drax power station which burns timber as a biofuel to generate electricity uses wood pellets. Although wood pellets can be made from waste wood, most of the pellets that are burnt at Drax are made from whole trees that were once growing in virgin forests in South Carolina and British Columbia. These are then imported to the UK. For more information- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68381160
The Green Tau 