Alternate Fuel 

Biofuels - What Are They?

Biofuels are fuels that can be created when some biological materials decompose. They are primarily derived from plants, and can be formed as solids, liquids or gases.

Bio-fuels are different from fossil fuels in the following ways: 1. Fossil fuels take millions of years to make whereas bio-fuels can be made extremely fast, in a matter of days. 2. Fossil fuels generate huge amounts of pollution. Bio-fuels are comparatively safer. 3. Bio-fuels are renewable sources of energy unlike fossil fuels.

Bio-fuels have been categorized into four types: first generation, second generation, third generation, and fourth generation.

The first generation bio-fuels are derived from vegetable fats, starch, and sugar, which are in turn derived from food-crops. The first generation fuels are also derived from animal fats. Biogas, bio-diesel, and vegetable oil are some examples of this type of bio-fuels.

The 2nd generation of biofuels are derived from waste biomass. This would include oil, alcohols and diesels made from things such as felled trees.

The third generation comprises of bio-fuels derived from algae. Algae are farmed on large scales for creating these bio-fuels. The algae fuels are extremely environment-friendly as they can easily decompose into the soil without harming it.

The 4th generation of biofuels are those made from excretions of microorganisms. The microorganisms are farmed in large scale reactors and excrete chemicals that can be used as fuel.

Advantages of biofuels include: 1. They reduce the burden on fossil fuels which will one day run out. 2. They are eco-friendly, unlike many bio fuels, and will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 3. They can be very cost effective when used correctly.

Disadvantages of bio-fuels include: 1. Economists have long debated on the usefulness of first generation bio-fuels when compared to the food that could be grown instead. Generating fuel from food crops makes food crops unworthy of human consumption. Some people believe that being a higher priority than fuel, food should not be farmed for making fuels but for human consumption. 2. Making bio-fuels require acres of farming land, thus encroaching upon the natural habitat of plants and animals.

Would you like to learn more about renewable energy technologies? We are renewable energy experts and enthusiasts. See our site which is at RenewableEnergyAtHome.Com for more details and do-it-yourself renewable energy. For example, see how to build a wind power generator through this link right now.

Videos

What Are Biofuels News

BP Biofuels North America acquires cellulosic biofuels business of Verenium ... - Trading Markets (press release)

Your Industry News (press release)

BP Biofuels North America acquires cellulosic biofuels business of Verenium ... Trading Markets (press release) BP Biofuels North America LLC, a subsidiary of BP plc, has acquired the cellulosic biofuels business of Verenium Corporation for $98.3 million. ... BP closes $98M buyout of Verenium biofuels businessMass High Tech Verenium Closes Sale of Biofuels BusinessSan Diego Business Journal Verenium Closes Sale of Cellulosic Biofuels Business to BPPR Newswire (press release) Domestic Fuel -BrighterEnergy.org all 30 news articles »

Miss. gov signs bill banning synthetic marijuana - BusinessWeek

Miss. gov signs bill banning synthetic marijuana BusinessWeek Barbour also signed a multimillion-dollar incentive package for a Texas-based biofuels company, KiOR, to develop factories in Mississippi to convert timber ... and more »

Xylitol Canada Strategic Partnership Now Includes Mascoma Corporation - MarketWatch (press release)

Proactive Investors USA & Canada

Xylitol Canada Strategic Partnership Now Includes Mascoma Corporation MarketWatch (press release) Mascoma Corporation is an innovative biofuels company committed to developing environmentally sustainable, low cost, low carbon biofuels from cellulosic ... Mascoma acquires SunOpta BioProcess for $51MBusinessWeek Mascoma purchases SunOpta BioprocessBiofuels International SunOpta sells SunOpta BioProcess to Mascoma for $51mProactive Investors USA & Canada CanadianBusiness.com -Biofuels Digest (blog) -Reuters Africa all 89 news articles »

Use of biofuels promoted for nation's motor vehicles - Trading Markets (press release)

Use of biofuels promoted for nation's motor vehicles Trading Markets (press release) Bio-fuel, which emits 30 percent less carbon dioxide than other petrols,should be more widely used in the country to protect the environment,experts have ... and more »

Imperial Biofuels Subsidiary Clears Milestone - MarketWatch (press release)

Imperial Biofuels Subsidiary Clears Milestone MarketWatch (press release) "Expanding the plant throughput to its current capacity was one of our early goals for e-biofuels and a great deal of credit goes to the management of ... Indiana biodiesel plant up to speed after acquisitionBrighterEnergy.org all 13 news articles »