Biofuels: Potential, Current Issues and Future Trends

Biofuels are renewable liquid fuels coming from biological raw material and have been proved to be good substitutes for oil in the transportation sector. Biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are gaining worldwide acceptance as a solution to energy security, reducing imports and improving agricultural economy. Bio fuels are to reduce negative environmental effects through lower emissions and climatic impacts. Local production of bio energy is projected to have a broad range of positive economic, social and environmental implications. India is sixth in the world in energy demand accounting for 3.5% of world commercial energy consumption. Indian petrol reserves are expected to last for another 20 years plus. There is more potential for biodiesel to be produced on a smaller scale, it requires the least economies of scale and has the greatest potential to benefit small farmers and rural development. Europe, Brazil, China and India each have targets to replace 5% to 20% of total diesel with biodiesel. It is possible that Biodiesel could represent as much as 20% of all on-road diesel used in Brazil, Europe, China and India by the year 2020 with the pursuit of second generation, non-food feed stocks. Present study reveals potential of biofuel as solution of environmental problems, energy security and many other issues. It also focuses on current issues and bright future trends of biofuel as it is getting significant importance globally due to growing world energy demand, the insecurity of long-term supply and the consequences of fossil fuel use for climate change.