Present and Future of Biofuels

Several routes for the production of renewable energy have been proposed. From the alternatives, it is possible to highlight four categories: (i) integration of solar and wind power to produce fuels and chemicals; (ii) biomass conversion; (iii) a polygeneration process which can produce simultaneously transportation fuels, energy, and high value added chemicals; and (iv) a combination of syngas and hydrogen to produce chemicals. This chapter provides a brief description of the generalities of the most promising biofuels today: bioethanol, biodiesel, biobutanol, biojet fuel, and biogas. As only 1% of energy is generated from biomass, there is a great opportunity for the use of renewable fuels. The biofuels industry helps greatly in the reduction of greenhouse gases, as well as reducing the dependence on petroleum derivatives, and increases diversity in renewable sources of energy, and in the generation of jobs.