1. Biofuels are liquid fuels made from biomass like plants, crops, and waste oils that can replace or complement gasoline and diesel. 2. The two main types are bioethanol made from sugarcane, corn, beets or wheat, and biodiesel made from vegetable oils like rapeseed, sunflower, and palm oil. 3. Biofuels can reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels but producing them costs more than gasoline and diesel currently.

1. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIOFUELS
Carlos Sousa
AGENEAL, Local Energy Management Agency of
Almada
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2. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
SUMMARY
1. Definition of Biofuels
2. Types of Biofuels
3. Characteristics of Biofuels
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3. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
DEFINITION OF BIOFUELS
Biofuels are liquid fuels, which are made from a variety of sources of
biomass:
• plant materials
• types of crops
• recycled or waste vegetable oils
Biofuels can be used in internal combustion engines, as a replacement
or complement of petrol and diesel.
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4. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIOFUELS
Reasons for promoting biofuels are:
• To contribute to the security of energy supply;
• To contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions;
• To promote a greater use of renewable energy;
• To diversify agricultural economies into new markets.
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5. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
TYPES OF BIOFUELS
The two main biofuels are:
1. Bioethanol, as a substitute or additive for petrol;
2. Biodiesel, as a substitute for diesel;
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6. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIODIESEL
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7. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIODIESEL
Biodiesel is a general name for methyl esters from organic feedstock.
Biodiesel can be made from a wide range of vegetable oils:
• rapeseed – the most common one
• sunflower
• palm oil
• soy
• recycled cooking oils
Germany and France are the largest EU producers
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8. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
USE OF BIODIESEL
• Biodiesel can be used pure or blended.
• Most common blends is 5% biodiesel,
95% diesel
• Blends above 5% may invalidate
manufacturers warranty
• Blends above 30% may require
modifications in the engine
• rubber seals perishing and injectors
blocking
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9. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIODIESEL AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Use of 100% biodiesel would reduce “life-cycle” CO2 emissions by 40 to
50%.
But, this is not common…
…Use of 5% blend reduces CO2 emissions by 2 to 2.5%.
Biodiesel is biodegradable
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10. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIOETHANOL
Bioethanol is a alcohol produced from the fermentation of:
• sugarcane and corn: Brazil and USA
• sugar beet or wheat: Europe, mainly Spain, Poland and France are the
main producers
• Technology to produce bioethanol from cellulosic materials
(agricultural and wood wastes) and separated domestic wastes is not
yet well developed
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11. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIOETHANOL
• A 5% blend of Bioethanol does not require vehicle modifications, nor
affects manufacturers warranty.
• Substitute for MTBE in petrol (octane enhancer)
• Flexible Fuelled Vehicles, FFV, can use higher concentrations of
bioethanol
• Ford, Volvo and Saab sell FFV (blend of 85% bioethanol and 15%
petrol)
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12. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
USE OF BIOETHANOL
• The energy content of bioethanol is about two-thirds that of petrol
• Consumption is higher (volume)
• Bioethanol is an alcohol – contains oxygen (C2H5OH)
• Need to adjust air/fuel ratio – modern engines do it up to 10%
bioethanol blends
• Bioethanol has a higher latent heat of evaporation
• poorer cold start ability in winter. Petrol may need to be used for start
• Bioethanol is an octane enhancer
• Higher compression ratios may be used – More efficiency!!
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13. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIOETHANOL AND THE ENVIRONMENT
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14. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIOETHANOL AND THE ENVIRONMENT
• For 100% bioethanol the reductions are typically 50 to 60% on a “life-
cycle” basis compared with conventional fossil fuels.
• 5% blends would bring approximately 2.5 to 3% net reductions.
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15. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
BIOFUELS – ECONOMIC ASPECTS
• Producing biodiesel from oil seeds costs about twice as much as
diesel from crude oil
• Producing bioethanol costs about 2-3 times as much as petrol from
crude oil
Thus…
• Duty reductions or exemptions are necessary
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16. ALTERNATIVE FUELS AND VEHICLES
Thank you for your attention!
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