In recent history biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol have become industry all over the world. Many nations have actually taken an eager interest in their continued manufacture and use, including developing countries such as Brazil which is seen as a world leader in biofuel development. Even smaller sized nations such as the UK currently use around one and a half million litres of biofuel a year and goal to increase this three-fold within the next ten years.
But wait, there's a problem.
There is however a significant issue; with the increase in popularity of biofuels as has the level of criticism increased. From the "food versus fuel" debate, links to food price increases and impact of water resources to concerns over logging and loss of biodiversity there are mounting difficulties for the fuel to overcome.
But there is intend to be discovered in a range of technologies broadly described as 2nd generation biofuels. Such fuels are produced from sustainable feedstock instead of the typically editable crops utilized in very first generation biofuels (sugarcane, corn etc.) thus avoiding a number of the problems pointed out previously.
Wish for the future
One such innovation is Algae Fuel, which can produce as much as 3 hundred times more oil per acre than traditional crops in addition to growing twenty to thirty times quicker. As if these benefits weren't considerable enough it is likewise possible to cultivate algae on traditionally unusable land such as land stricken by dry spell or containing extremely high levels of saline.
Another extremely promising fuel is Cellulosic Ethanol which is just fuel produced from non-edible parts of plants (or certainly grasses and other plants that are inedible). This fuel source shares some benefits with Algae fuel such as high per-acre productivity however has the unique advantage that no unique cultivation is required. Cellulose is contained in almost all plants growing throughout the world.
Or should that be expect today?
These might seem like science-fiction but the truth of the matter is that by 2008 the United States was already producing twelve million litres of fuel from cellulosic ethanol with production facilities capable for producing an extra eighty million gallons each year in development.
There is much to be excited about in the Biofuel market from both an organization and environmental perspective and continued development especially in second generation technologies appears ensured. Such rapid grown represents an exciting time for alternative energy production.
To keep abreast of the most recent developments and market projections for alternative energy and biofuels it's recommended the reader delay to professional biofuel market analysis.