What are Biofuels?

• Biofuels are transportation fuels derived from renewable sources such as plants and animals

• When burned, biofuels release CO2 without net carbon emissions

• There are many types of biofuels under development

John David Kaweske, President and founder of Bio Clean Energy, S.A., explains that solid, liquid or gaseous fuels produced from biomass are called biofuels. Biofuels are renewable and good substitutes for fossil fuels. Most of the biofuels available on the market today are made from plants. They are often used as transportation fuels.

Kaweske points out that certain plants are being cultivated specifically for the production of biofuels. Rod grass (Panicum virgatum), soybeans, and corn are important sources of biofuel in the United States. Brazil uses sugar cane, while Europe processes beets and wheat. Other agricultural products that are transformed into biofuels are cassava and sorghum in China, miscanthus and palm oil in Southeast Asia, and jatropha in India.

According to Kaweske, some examples of biofuels are biodiesel, bioalcohols (bioethanol, biomethanol, biobutanol), bio-gas, synthesis gas, and solid bio-fuels such as wood, charcoal, and sawdust. Among the countries that have strongly promoted the development and use of biofuels are Brazil, the United States, France, Sweden and Germany.

Regulations and incentives

John David Kaweske shares that in the United States, there are many incentives and laws for the use of biofuels at the state and federal levels. Washington state alone has 4 incentive programs and 13 laws. Pure biodiesel (B100) and biodiesel blends of B20 or more are eligible for credits for the use of alternative fuels under the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Most states offer exemptions and tax deductions for the use of bio-fuels.