About Biofuels

Advanced biofuels are fuels produced from biomass sources through a variety of biological, thermal, and chemical processes. These products are similar to petroleum gasoline, diesel, or jet fuel in chemical makeup and are therefore considered infrastructure-compatible fuels. These fuels can be used in vehicles without requiring engine modifications and can use existing petroleum fuel pipelines and retail distribution systems.

Also called second-generation biofuels, they can overcome the limitations of both fossil fuels and first-generation predecessors by utilizing existing infrastructure, reducing emissions, and better utilization of our land when coupled with proper sustainability certification.

Advanced biofuels are considered “low carbon fuels” based on their total impact on the environment and economy. These fuels can provide significant environmental and social benefits if developed with caution and foresight. The best biofuels are those that make it environmentally and economically possible to produce more food and fuel in a way that reduces emissions, conserves soil and water resources, protects forests and native ecosystems, and improves the economic welfare of farmers, workers, and communities.

Life-cycle accounting allows biofuels to be rated based on all the greenhouse gas emissions produced from creation or extraction to the use in a vehicle, including supply chain emissions. Most regions throughout the world rate fuel greenhouse gas emissions based on this scoring approach.

Land use is an important part of biofuel production, as feedstocks are frequently sourced from biomass. The inclusion of land use change impacts help to minimize the use of biomass that compete with food production.

A Growing Market

Biofuels are currently mandated in 62 countries around the world, and agriculture is delivering the feedstock to make those biofuels. The demand for clean diesel and jet fuels is the most rapidly growing segment of the renewable fuels market, as commercial transportation like the aviation industry carry more people than ever before and have committed to lower their carbon footprint.