Global biofuel industry - statistics & facts
Today’s biofuel industry has grown largely in response to concerns over continued reliance on petroleum-based motor fuels. However, biofuel use goes hand in hand with the invention of automobile engines and dates to the early 19th century. Fuel ethanol (also referred to as bioethanol in its pure state), and biodiesel are the main types of biofuel used. The first as an additive in or alternative to gasoline, the latter as a substitute for oil-derived diesel. Worldwide biofuel production has grown to around 190 billion liters per year and is expected to continue its steady growth in the future.
Biodiesel is primarily sourced from vegetable oils such as soy and rapeseed, and to a lesser extent waste products such as used cooking oils. The EU is the world's leading producer of FAME biodiesel. FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) biodiesel is the most produced biodiesel type. HVO or renewable diesel was commercialized by Finnish refiner Neste and still has a smaller market footprint despite its chemical makeup allowing for drop-in replacement of generic diesel.
Differences between ethanol and biodiesel
Ethanol is an alcohol whose production requires starch- or sugar-based feedstocks. Depending on the producing region, the most common are crops such as maize, sugar beet, and wheat. There are more than 1,100 fuel ethanol refineries across major producing countries, with a combined capacity of some 160 billion liters. The most ubiquitous types of fuel ethanol are gasoline blends containing an ethanol percentage between five or 25 percent. These are usable in cars with a regular gasoline-powered engine. Other popular fuel blends such as E85 (85 percent ethanol) and E100 require a specially fitted engine.Biodiesel is primarily sourced from vegetable oils such as soy and rapeseed, and to a lesser extent waste products such as used cooking oils. The EU is the world's leading producer of FAME biodiesel. FAME (fatty acid methyl esters) biodiesel is the most produced biodiesel type. HVO or renewable diesel was commercialized by Finnish refiner Neste and still has a smaller market footprint despite its chemical makeup allowing for drop-in replacement of generic diesel.
