What Are Bio-Fuels?

Bio-Fuels are man-made fuels derived from the conversion of biomass; animal fats, plants, food crops, and food waste. BioFuels work just like fossil fuels, however, produce much less harmful emissions.

How Are Bio Fuels Made?

There are multiple ways in which biofuels can be made. Biofuels have been around for a long time, and they include ethanol, which is alcohol fermented from the starches in plants, and biodiesel, which is refined from vegetable oils, animal fats and used cooking oil.

First-generation biofuels were produced from things like vegetable oil and food crops like rapeseed. Early bio-fuels like these would never make it into mass production as they took up good land for farming crops and was damaging to engines. However, these fuels helped pave the way for much better research into the materials used and the production of biofuels.

Second-generation biofuels such as HVO Fuels found a way around the issue of using up valuable farming land. This version relied less on crops that could be used for food and focused more on using the waste aspect of crops and oils.

3rd generation biofuels use algae as the source. When it comes to the potential to produce fuel, no feedstock can match algae in terms of quantity or diversity. Using algae for biofuels means that food crops don’t need to be grown for fuel which frees up farmland.

Advantages And Disadvantages

BioFuel Advantages

• Reduced C02 and greenhouse gas emissions

• Renewable

• Can be used alongside fossil fuels

• Eco-friendly production

• Less pollution from spills and accidents

BioFuels Disadvantages

• Can increase the cost of food production

• Poor quality fuel can lead to engine blockages and corrosion

• Not currently as efficient as fossil fuels

Types of Bio-Fuels

HVO fuel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) is a form of renewable fuel that has been produced from renewable and sustainably sourced vegetable fats and oils. HVO uses hydrogen as the catalyst, which is what distinguishes HVO from biodiesel. This makes it a more clean-burning, environmentally-friendly renewable diesel alternative, without the short shelf life of regular biodiesel. Exciting new trials of using this fuel as an alternative to heating oil (Kerosene) are taking place, find out more here.

Biodiesel - Currently one of the most popular biofuels being a direct replacement for petroleum diesel. A lot of new vehicles, especially in the transport sectors are now able to use a blend of biodiesel with normal road diesel.

Biogas is another common biofuel that is a gas as opposed to the others which are in liquid form. The organic matter used are food crops, waste food and manure.

Bioethanol- This biofuel is easy to produce and works well at higher altitude however disadvantages include; more fuel usage, less efficiency and the ethanol can be corrosive to fuel tanks and the engine.

If you have any questions regarding biofuels leave them in the comments below. To stay up to date with the recent trials of using HVO as an alternative to heating oil sign up to our newsletter below.