Four Types of Renewable Biofuel

Biofuels are sources of energy derived from biomass (renewable organic matter). They include trees, agricultural crops and waste from different industries.

Biodiesel – this is fuel produced from vegetable oils. Biodiesel crops include oil seed rape, soya bean, tallow (animal fat) and waste cooking oil. It is made by combining the oil with ethanol or methanol in the presence of a catalyst. The by-product is glycerol.

Bioethanol – this is made by fermenting sugars from cereals and sugar-producing plants, including sugar cane, sugar beet, wheat, cassava, corn or forest waste. Some, like sugar cane, produce the fuel far more efficiently than others, such as corn. Early cars, including Ford’s Model T, could run on both plant-derived alcohol and petrol.

Biogas – this is methane produced by organic waste products as they break down. For instance, the Caledonian Environment Centre has completed a feasibility study on a possible plant in Elgin that would use food and animal waste products. Gas would be produced from anaerobic digestion of the waste which could then be burned to create both electricity and heat.

Hydrogen fuel – this can be used to power cars. It is environmentally attractive because it burns to produce water instead of carbon dioxide. It can be produced in quantity from certain algae.

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.

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