Biofuels

In the UK the main biofuels are biodiesel and bioethanol. UK production of biodiesel utilises a combination of imported and home grown crops (10% of the UK oilseed rape crop in 2007), plus a small quantity of recycled products, including used cooking oil. Britain's first-ever bioethanol plant at Wissendon, East England was opened in 2007. Approximately 55,000t bioethanol is made from sugar beet using yeast fermentation followed by distillation.

In the UK, biodiesel and bioethanol can be added to standard diesel and unleaded petrol at levels up to 5%, for use in standard vehicles. There are also special vehicles which use higher concentrations of biofuels, including flexi-fuel cars.

In many cases, biofuels produce significantly less greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels such as gas or diesel. According to BP data, biofuels from conventional crops such as corn or vegetable oils have a 10–90% greenhouse gas emission reduction on a well-to-wheels basis compared to gas and diesel.

Biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion of organic animal and food wastes and sewage. It can be upgraded to biomethane for use in vehicles. For further details please go to the anaerobic digestion page.

Click here for useful links.