1st and 2nd Generation Biofuels

First generation biofuels are those that have been derived from food sources such as starch, sugar, animal fats and vegetable oil in a process not dissimilar from that of wine or beer-making fermentation.

These fuels are produced in bioethanol facilities such as that of British Sugar, based in Wissington, Norfolk. The plant produces approximately 70 million litres of bioethanol from locally grown sugar beet - all of which is surplus to the needs of the food market.

First generation biofuels are currently the most widely accessible source of biofuel, but a second generation may be available in years to come. Their aim is to extend the amount of biofuel that can be produced sustainably.

Breakthrough Technology

Saab has partnered with renewable energy company Coskata to help pioneer a breakthrough in ethanol technology that produces fuel from practically any renewable energy source.

This new process uses biomass derived from residual non-food parts of crops, including stems, leaves and husks; crops not used to produce food such as switch grass, jathropha and cereals that bear little grain; plus industry waste such as old tyres, wood chips, skins and pulp.

Using this new technology, for every unit of energy used, up to 7.7 times that amount of energy is generated, reducing C02 emissions by up to 84% compared to well-to-wheel analysis of gasoline.

The key advantages of using second-generation biofuels are as follows:

• They have a more favourable GHG balance. Cellulose ethanol could produce 75% less CO2 than normal petrol, whereas corn or sugar beet ethanol reduces CO2 levels by just 60%. As for diesel, Biomass-to-Liquid (BtL) technology could slash CO2 emissions by 90%, compared with 75% for currently available biodiesel
• They use a wider range of biomass feedstocks
• They could be produced at cost-competitive prices, especially if low-cost biomass is used
• They offer a better quality of fuel than first-generation biofuels