Different types of biofuels

  • Disadvantages of biofuels
  • Biofuel production

    • Different types of biofuels

    Biofuels are fuels made from biomass. This is material of vegetable or animal origin, such as wood, maize, manure, food waste or vegetable oil. An important advantage of these raw materials is that they are renewable and therefore do not become depleted like fossil fuels, and are able to supply a continuous source of clean energy. There are different types of biofuels. Biodiesel is the best-known liquid fuel for transport. Below we list the various types of biofuels, with some of their properties and application options.

    Straight vegetable oil (SVO)

    SVO or straight vegetable oil is oil extracted from oil bearing seeds, beans and fruits that can be used as fuel without modifications. The oil can be used in a diesel engine, although long term use could result in motor damages. The oil is slightly viscous. To use it in winter conditions, it must be heated. In general, vegetable and animal oils and fats are processed into biodiesel (FAME: Fatty Acid Methyl Ester).

    Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME)

    FAME or Fatty Acid Methyl Ester is the well-known biodiesel that is usually sold mixed with fossil diesel. It is made from vegetable and animal oils and fats or waste products such as used cooking oil. At the moment FAME is for sale at the pump in Europe, as B7. This means that up to 7 per cent of the fuel is biobased. Higher blending percentages are also possible, especially for heavy road transport. Certain vehicle manufacturers allow running on B100 (pure FAME). Depending on the type of raw material used, specific names and abbreviations are used: RME: rapeseed methyl ester; SME: Soy methyl ester; UCOME: Used Cooking Oil methyl ester; TME: tallow methyl ester.

    Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO)/Hydroprocessed esters and fatty acid (HEFA)

    HVO or Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil is a type of biofuel that is made from vegetable and animal oils and fats or waste products such as used cooking oil. The processing makes the fuel chemicall

  • Ethanol biofuel

    • At the forefront of biofuel development

    Biofuels are fuels derived from organic sources such as biomass and organic waste. They represent one of the main solutions for quickly and efficiently reducing emissions from mobility in the coming years.

    They’re already part of our daily lives. The fuel supplied at our service stations already contains more than 10% fuel of renewable origin, in compliance with current regulations.

    In line with our commitment to become a net zero company by 2050, we develop and produce biofuels using different industrial processes.

    incorporating biofuels into our fuels.

    in emissions reduction in transport in Spain in 2023.

    250,000

    t/year starting in 2023

    in biofuel production in Cartagena.

    What if your car could run on garbage?

    What are the advantages of these fuels?

    Renewable fuels such as biofuels can be used in existing combustion engine vehicles, taking advantage of existing distribution and refueling infrastructures. They already represent asustainable mobility alternative for all transport segments. Especially aviation, maritime, and heavy-duty transportation, which currently do not have a viable alternative through electrification.

    With their use we can limit CO2 emissions since the CO2 released in their use is equal to the CO2 that has been previously removed from the atmosphere by the raw material used for their production, which makes them emission-reducing fuels. They expand the range of low-emission mobility technologies and allow us to increase the pace of decarbonization without relying solely on renewing the fleet with electric vehicles. They allow consumers to choose the ones that best suit their needs and start reducing their emissions immediately.

    Their production and distribution can be carried out using existing industrial facilities. Therefore, the manufacture of biofuels represents an enormous opportunity for the growth of industrial acti

  • What is biofuel used for

    • Biofuel

    Type of biological fuel

    This article is about mainly liquid or gaseous fuels used for transport. For other applications, see Bioenergy.

    Biofuel is a fuel that is produced over a short time span from biomass, rather than by the very slow natural processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels such as oil. Biofuel can be produced from plants or from agricultural, domestic or industrial bio waste. Biofuels are mostly used for transportation, but can also be used for heating and electricity. Biofuels (and bio energy in general) are regarded as a renewable energy source. The use of biofuel has been subject to criticism regarding the "food vs fuel" debate, varied assessments of their sustainability, and ongoing deforestation and biodiversity loss as a result of biofuel production.

    In general, biofuels emit fewer greenhouse gas emissions when burned in an engine and are generally considered carbon-neutral fuels as the carbon emitted has been captured from the atmosphere by the crops used in production. However, life-cycle assessments of biofuels have shown large emissions associated with the potential land-use change required to produce additional biofuel feedstocks. The outcomes of lifecycle assessments (LCAs) for biofuels are highly situational and dependent on many factors including the type of feedstock, production routes, data variations, and methodological choices. This could be added to emphasize the complexity and variability in assessing the environmental impacts of biofuels. Estimates about the climate impact from biofuels vary widely based on the methodology and exact situation examined. Therefore, the climate change mitigation potential of biofuel varies considerably: in some scenarios emission levels are comparable to fossil fuels, a

    The Different Types of Biofuel

    Biofuel is any fuel that’s derived from biomass, which includes animal waste, algae, or plant matter. The term “bio” refers to the organic nature of the fuel sources as it’s not produced geologically like fossil fuels (coal and petroleum). Biofuel is a renewable source of energy since it’s derived from replenishable matter (biomass), and it’s easy to extract.

    Types of Biofuel

    There are three main types of biofuel, and they include:

    Ethanol

    Ethanol is essentially ethyl alcohol or pure alcohol, and it’s the most common alternative biofuel used in cars today. While ethanol can be made from different sources, the most common are sugarcane and corn.

    The ethanol making process involves the fermentation of high carbon content matter, mainly cellulose and sugars extracted from sugarcane or corn. Naturally, ethanol is clean, releasing roughly 15% less greenhouse gas emissions. It’s usually incorporated with other fuels to reduce carbon emissions.

    In large-scale sugarcane producing countries such as Brazil, most motor-vehicles are powered by 100% ethanol. In 2011, the US government approved the use of ethanol blends of up to 15% in car models newer than 2001.

    But, people have used ethanol blends of 10% for years with no need for modifications. Unfortunately, there are controversies surrounding the sustainability of ethanol.

    Biodiesel

    Biodiesel is a liquid biofuel that’s derived from a combination of vegetables and fats, and oils from both animals and plants. Some manufacturers simply collect used restaurant oil to make biodiesel. To obtain pure biodiesel, manufacturers focus on plants with high energy content.

    Alcohol is also a key ingredient in the manufacture of biodiesel. Biodiesel is quickly gaining popularity as finding recycled cooking grease, vegetable oils, and animal fat is quite easy. Compared to petroleum-based diesel, biodiesel minimizes tailpipe emissions, and it burns cleaner. It also doesn’t contain sulfur, which