Biofuels are liquid fuels of biological origin with physical and chemical properties such that they can be used to replace liquid fossil-fuels, either completely, mixed with them or as an additive.
Biofuels come from raw vegetable materials which are transformed either biologically or physically and chemically. There are two main groups of first-generation biofuels: biodiesel and bio-ethanol.
Bio-ethanol is mainly obtained from cereals, sugar cane and beet. Biodiesel, however, comes from vegetable oils.
At the same time, work is underway to develop a new kind of biofuel, known as second-generation biofuels, made from new raw materials such as ligno-cellulose (straw, forestry residue), algae, etc.
Facilities used to take advantage of the by-products and fractions of biomass to produce heat, energy, fuels and chemical products are known as bio-refineries.
EU biodiesel production:
- 2007: 5,713,000 t (Germany is top with 2,890,000 t, followed by France, Italy, Austria, Portugal and Spain – with 168,000 t)
- The amounts produced in 2007 were 68% of all the biodiesel produced in the world.
As regards bio-ethanol, 1.7 Ml were produced in 2007.
ALTERMIA has successfully advised developers, investors and financial institutions on national and international biofuel projects. Our references show our track record: in excess of 750,000 t.