Biofuels are fuels derived from recently living biological material, or biomass, including crops, algae, agricultural and forestry residues, animal fats, and organic waste, offering a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. They are commonly grouped by feedstock and process. First-generation biofuels, such as bioetha…
Biofuels are fuels derived from recently living biological material, or biomass, including crops, algae, agricultural and forestry residues, animal fats, and organic waste, offering a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. They are commonly grouped by feedstock and process. First-generation biofuels, such as bioethanol from sugar and starch crops and biodiesel from vegetable oils, are produced from food-based sources, while later generations use lignocellulosic residues, dedicated non-food crops, and algal biomass to reduce competition with food production and improve sustainability. Production routes include fermentation of sugars to ethanol, transesterification of oils and fats into biodiesel, and biochemical or thermochemical conversion of more complex biomass, often relying on enzymes and microbial processes to break down feedstocks. Algae are of particular interest for their rapid growth and high lipid content, and microbial systems, including engineered and thermostable enzymes, are studied to enhance the breakdown of plant polysaccharides and the yield of fuels and co-products. Biofuels can substitute for or supplement conventional fuels in transport, heating, and power generation, with potential to lower net greenhouse-gas emissions depending on feedstock and life-cycle factors. Their development sits within the broader water-energy-food context and depends on advances in feedstock supply, conversion efficiency, and economic and environmental performance to realize their role in sustainable energy.
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The 5 articles above have been cited 322 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
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