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Humans have used biofuels since time immemorial — for example, burning wood and manure for cooking, heating and light. They've gained popularity in recent decades for their potential to deliver ...
Life-cycle assessments of first-generation biofuels have shown large emissions associated with the potential land-use change required to produce additional biofuel feedstocks. [ 9 ] [ 10 ] If no land-use change is involved, first-generation biofuels can—on average—have lower emissions than fossil fuels. [ 9 ]
First generation biofuels such as biodiesel [4] are produced directly from crops, such as cereals, maize, sugar beet and cane, and rapeseed. Second generation fuels are produced from byproducts from production of food and other goods, as well as from household waste, used frying oil from restaurants, and slaughterhouse waste. [5]
Biofuel can be produced from any carbon source that can be replenished rapidly e.g. plants. Many different plants and plant-derived materials are used for biofuel manufacture. Perhaps the earliest fuel employed by humans is wood. Evidence shows controlled fire was used up to 1.5 million years ago at Swartkrans, South Africa.
Biofuel development and use is a complex issue because there are many biofuel options which are available. Biofuels, such as ethanol and biodiesel, are currently produced from the products of conventional food crops such as the starch, sugar and oil feedstocks from crops that include wheat, maize, sugar cane, palm oil and oilseed rape.
The United States used biofuel in the beginning of the 20th century. For example, models of Ford T ran with ethanol fuel. Then the interest in biofuels declined until the first and second oil crisis, in 1973 and 1979. [citation needed] The Department of Energy established the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 1974 and started to work in ...
There are two main types of biofuels produced: Ethanol and Biodiesel. Biodiesel is a liquid fuel composed of vegetable oils and or animal fats. To create the gasoline itself, these subsequent liquids are combined with alcohol. Biodiesel is used to fuel compression ignition engines, otherwise known as diesel engines.
The production of biodiesel from sustainable ingredients, like used cooking oil, can earn refiners a slew of state and federal environmental and climate subsidies, including tradable credits under ...