6.6B Biofuels

• Biofuels:

  • Biofuels are derived immediately from living matter, such as agricultural crops, forestry or fishing products and various forms of waste
  • There are two types of biofuels:
  • Primary biofuels which include fuelwood, wood chips and pellets that are used unprocessed for heating, cooking or electricity
  • Secondary biofuels are derived from the processing of crops (e.g., sugar cane, soybeans and maize) where two type of fuel are extracted (bio-alcohol and biodiesel) which are used to fuel vehicles and generate electricity
• • In the UK, the two main crops that are used are oilseed rape and sugar beet
  • Most of these biofuels are converted into ethanol or biodiesel and used mostly as vehicle fuel
  • Whilst , biofuels can be considered a ‘green’ source of energy, there are disadvantages, for example, the implications this can have on food supply
  • For example, a hectare of space used to grow energy crops is a hectare less for growing much needed food
• Biofuels in Brazil:

  • Brazil began to diversify its energy sources in the 1970s in order to improve its energy security
  • Brazil is now the largest producer of sugar cane and has become the leading exporter of sugar and ethanol
  • Since 2003, the area used for sugar cane has increased massively and is likely to continue which has led to the displacement of other types of agriculture e.g., cattle pasture