Biofuels
 

What are biofuels?
Biofuels are liquid fuels derived from plant materials and are entering the market, driven by factors such as oil price spikes and the need for increased energy security.
 

How are biofuels produced?
Production processes for biofuels can use a variety of non-food crops. These include waste biomass, the stalks of wheat, corn, wood, and special energy or biomass crops. Biofuels use biomass-to-liquid technology, including cellulosic biofuels from non-food crops. Cellulosic ethanol production uses non-food crops or inedible waste products and does not divert food away from the animal or human food chain.
 

How do biofuels differ from other forms of renewable energy?
Biofuels differ from other renewable energy sources (such as wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and solar) as they are primarily used in the transportation sector and are derived from recently living matter, both plant and animal. Biofuels contribute to the attainment of the energy-related goals of the United States, including increasing energy security and reducing the environmental degradation linked to transportation fuels.

Additional Information:

Ethanol: A Primer

Biofuels '101'