Biofuels

Uses for Biofuels

Biofuels are most commonly used to power vehicles, heat homes, and for cooking. Biofuels can be used, in either pure form or blended with fossil fuels, in diesel-powered vehicles and boats. In Brazil, farmers grow a special kind of sugar cane called “energy-cane,” which is used to fuel some of their cars. Renewable energy represents 46% of Brazil’s total annual energy supply, one-third of which is the biofuel ethanol.

Biofuels are commonly used:

• As solvents in perfumes or varnish
• As disinfectants
• In medicines
• To increase octane and improve the emissions quality of gasoline

Demand for Biofuels

The demand for biofuels, especially ethanol, is expected to increase globally in the coming years, although rising food prices, trade tensions and social unrest are prompting a debate on the hopes for running more cars and trucks on biofuel.

In the transportation sector, ethanol is the most widely used liquid biofuel in the world. The United States and Brazil are the world’s top ethanol fuel producers, accounting for 89% of the world’s production in 2008. Research indicates that worldwide ethanol production will exceed 20 billion gallons in 2012, with production capabilities emerging in India, Latin America and other spots around the globe.