Quick Facts on Biofuels

What are biofuels?

Biofuels are liquid transportation fuels made from plants and other forms of biomass. Ethanol is a gasoline type fuel made byfermenting sugars into alcohol. Biodiesel is a diesel type fuel madeby separating glycerin from vegetable oil to create methyl esters.Biofuels can reduce costly petroleum imports, cut greenhouse gasemissions, increase farm income and boost rural development.What materials can be used to make biofuels?Conventional ethanol is made from sugar cane, corn and sweetsorghum. Soybean and rapeseed are often used to make biodiesel,but coconut, palm, cannola and jatropha nut oil are also being usedthroughout the world.

Introduction

Need of Alternative Fuel

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World total energy consumption scenario:- 85% supplied from oil, natural gas and coal- 8% from nuclear energy- 7% from Agricultural sources, hydro, solar and windenergy

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Source: Bartlett, R. G., Solar Today March/April 2006

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Energy Crisis

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Crude oil peaking the highest in record,US $ 65/barrel in 2005

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Never ending increase in demand of oil