Global Biofuel Projections

Renewable resources are more evenly distributed than fossil and nuclear resources, and energy flows from renewable resources are more than three orders of magnitude higher than current global energy use. Today s energy system is unsustainable because of equity issues as well as environmental, economic, and geopolitical concerns that have implications far into the future (UNDP, 2000). 

According to International Energy Agency (lEA), scenarios developed for the USA and the EU indicate that near-term targets of up to 6% displacement of petroleum fuels with biofuels appear feasible using conventional biofuels, given available cropland. A 5% displacement of gasoline in the EU requires about 5% 

Renewable energy sources or renewables contributed 2% of the world s energy consumption in 1998, including 7 exajoules (EJ) from modem biomass and 2 EJ for all other renewables (UNDP, 2000). The renewables are clean or inexhaustible and primary energy resources. Renewable technologies like water and wind power probably would not have provided the same fast increase in industrial productivity as fossil fuels (Edinger and Kaul, 2000). 

In the future, biomass has the potential to provide a cost-effective and sustainable supply of energy, while at the same time aiding countries in meeting their greenhouse gas reduction targets. By the year 2050, it is estimated that 90% of the world population will live in developing countries. 

Hydrogen could be a peaceful energy carrier for all cormtries. Hydrogen might be the next great fuel, as it is available worldwide and water is its only byproduct. Hydrogen has received increased attention as a renewable and environmentally friendly option to help meet today s energy needs. 

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Demirbas, A., 2008. Biofuels sources, biofuel policy, biofuel economy and global biofuel projections. Energy Conversion Management 49,2106-2116. 

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