A fuel that is produced from renewable biological resources, including plants, algae, or organic waste, is referred to as biofuel. Biofuels are considered more sustainable than fossil fuels, which are limited and contribute to environmental problems like climate change. They can also help lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Biofuels have become a viable substitute as the world struggles with the pressing need to combat climate change and lessen our dependency on scarce fossil fuels. Biofuels from renewable biological resources provide a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way to satisfy our energy demands.
The creation and use of biofuels will be essential to lowering our carbon footprint as technology develops and people look for greener options. Even if there are still obstacles, continued research, innovation, and smart policy may help biofuels become a common and essential component of the world’s energy system.
Types of biofuel
Biofuels can be classified into different types based on their application. These can be ethanol, biogas, biodiesel, biojet fuels, etc.
1. Ethanol
Ethanol is the most prominent type of biofuel used in vehicles. There are initiatives from the motor manufacturers and governments for the blending of fuel with petrol called ethanol blending. This is the process by which the fuel containing 99% of the ethyl alcohol is obtained from plant products.
The source for the production of ethanol is plant products including corn and sugarcane. This is produced by the process of fermentation, more specifically anaerobic respiration that converts the sugar into alcohol. The selected and sorted raw materials are prepared as stock for fermentation. The prepared stock undergoes fermentation by the addition of various types of yeast in bioreactors. The formed product undergoes distillation and undergoes dehydration. Then finally undergoes blending with the fuel.
2. Biogas
Biogas has become a viable option that helps with resource efficiency and circularity while also addressing environmental issues. Biogas, which is produced by the anaerobic digestion of organic waste, is showing itself to be a flexible and environmentally beneficial substitute in the pursuit of greener energy.
As we move toward cleaner energy sources, biogas is an appealing alternative since it has various environmental benefits. The major application of using biogas is the reduction of the greenhouse gas. The breakdown of organic waste in landfills would otherwise release methane emissions, but the anaerobic digestion process drastically lowers such emissions. When utilized to produce electricity, the powerful greenhouse gas methane is transformed into a form that is less harmful to the environment. Biogas systems offer a practical way to handle organic waste, such as leftover food and agricultural waste. This lessens the environmental effect of landfill disposal while also aiding in trash reduction.
3. Biodiesel
Biodiesel has become a viable option in the search for environmentally acceptable and sustainable substitutes for traditional fossil fuels, providing a cleaner and greener energy source. Biodiesel, which is made from organic materials like vegetable and animal fats and recycled cooking oil, considerably cuts greenhouse gas emissions while also reducing reliance on scarce resources.
It is not necessary to make any changes to utilize biodiesel in diesel engines as a straight replacement for conventional diesel fuel or in combination with it. Blends like B20 (20% biodiesel) and B5 (5% biodiesel) are often used. Electricity may be produced from biodiesel, supporting decentralized and sustainable power generation.
4. Biojet fuel
The search for environmentally friendly substitutes for standard jet fuels in the aviation industry has resulted in the creation of bio jet fuel. Biojet fuel, which is derived from biologically renewable sources like trash, algae, or crops, promises to transform air travel by providing a more ecologically responsible choice. The future of bio jet fuel is bright as long as research, collaboration, and technology improvements continue. To achieve carbon-neutral development in the aviation industry by 2050, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) aspires to a large increase in the use of sustainable aviation fuels, including biojet fuels.
Also Read| What is Biotechnology? Scope and Terms of Biotechnology
Advantages of using biofuels
The major advantages of using biofuels are
- Reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reduced utilization of non-renewable energy sources.
- Cost-effectiveness of fuels.
Disadvantages of biofuels
The major disadvantage is the requirement of these fuels in large amounts for consumption. Large amounts of requirements require extensive amounts of raw materials, production infrastructure, and supply. Large amounts of raw materials need a large area for the production of plant products, this is a concern. Also, the establishment of production plants requires large financial support.
Author: Achuth B S
Last Updated
Graduated from the University of Kerala with B.Sc. Botany and Biotechnology. M.Sc. Biotechnology from the University of Kerala. Attended certificate course in Artificial Intelligence for Everyone from Deeplearning.AI, Influenza Prevention and Control from World Health Organization. Attended workshops related to Bioinformatics at the University of Kerala. 3 years of experience in website management. Experience in WordPress, Blogger, Google Analytics, and Google Search Console.
