Biofuels are the fuel generated from the biomass. They are the renewable source of energy. The different generation of biofuel are tabulated below:
| 1st Generation biofuel | · Produced directly from the crop
· Crop such as wheat and sugar are used · Stable, competitive with fossil fuel · Food vs Fuel criticism · Biodiesel and bioethanol are example |
| 2nd Generation biofuel | · produced from non-food crops such as wood, organic waste, food crop waste and specific biomass crops
· Cellulosic technology is used · Jatropha based biofuel · More available biomass, less controversial · High capital costs
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| 3rd Generation fuel | · Based on the energy extracted from algae.
· Algae are cultured at low cost · Entirely renewable feedstock |
| 4th Generation biofuel | · Way of capturing and storing CO2
· Aims at capturing more carbon and producing sustainable source of energy |
Biofuels can address the issue of energy deficiency and crisis faced by various countries. The need of the hour is to make the technology more competitive so that energy can become accessible to common masses.