Examples of Biofuels: What They Are and Where They’re Used

Common examples of biofuels include bioethanol, biodiesel (FAME), renewable diesel (HVO/HEFA), biogas/biomethane, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from several certified pathways, biobutanol, biomethanol, bio-LPG (biopropane), and solid fuels such as wood pellets and charcoal. These fuels are derived from biological material—crops, residues, organic wastes, and algae—and are used across road transport, aviation, marine shipping, power generation, and heating.

Liquid biofuels for road transport

The following list highlights the main liquid biofuels currently used in cars and trucks, noting their typical sources, how they are blended, and why they matter for decarbonizing road transport.

• Bioethanol: Produced by fermenting sugars or starches (e.g., sugarcane, corn, wheat) and increasingly from cellulosic residues; blended as E5–E10 globally, E15 in some markets, and up to E85 or E100 in flex‑fuel vehicles.
• Biodiesel (FAME): Fatty-acid methyl esters made from vegetable oils, used cooking oil, and animal fats; commonly used as B5–B20 and up to B100 in compatible diesel engines.
• Renewable diesel (HVO/HEFA): Hydrotreated vegetable oil and waste lipids refined into a drop‑in diesel; can be used up to 100% (R100) and typically offers better cold‑flow and stability than FAME.
• Biobutanol: An advanced alcohol with higher energy density and lower vapor pressure than ethanol; can be blended into gasoline at moderate levels without major vehicle modifications.
• Biomethanol: Produced from biomass gasification or biogas; used in chemicals, marine fuels, and as a potential gasoline blendstock.
• Bio‑naphtha: A co‑product from HVO/HEFA processes used for gasoline blending and as a renewable petrochemical feedstock.
• Pyrolysis oil (bio‑oil): A dense liquid from fast pyrolysis of biomass; used in industrial boilers and increasingly co‑processed in petroleum refineries.
• Biomass‑to‑Liquids (BtL) via Fischer–Tropsch: Synthetic diesel/gasoline/kerosene from gasified biomass; commercial at limited scale and under expansion.

Together these fuels offer immediate, scalable drop‑in and blended options. Ethanol and FAME are widely available, while HVO/HEFA and BtL provide “drop‑in” hydrocarbons compatible with modern engines and fuel infrastructure.

Biofuels for aviation and marine

This section covers bio‑based options for aircraft and ships, where energy density and strict fuel standards make drop‑in compatibility critical.

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) via HEFA‑SPK: Derived from waste oils and animal fats; the most commercially available SAF pathway today, approved for blending (typically up to 50%) under ASTM D7566.
• SAF via Alcohol‑to‑Jet (ATJ): Converts ethanol or isobutanol to jet fuel; ASTM‑certified for blended use, enabling bio‑based pathways from sugar, starch, and cellulosic feedstocks.
• SAF via Fischer–Tropsch (FT‑SPK/FT‑SPK(A)): Uses biomass gasification followed by FT synthesis to produce synthetic kerosene; certified for blending under ASTM standards.
• Marine biofuels: FAME biodiesel blends (B20–B100 in compatible engines), renewable diesel (HVO), bio‑LNG (liquefied biomethane) for dual‑fuel ships, and biomethanol increasingly adopted for methanol‑capable vessels.

SAF use is growing under policy mandates, with most pathways certified up to 50% blend levels in commercial aviation. In shipping, methanol, LNG/biomethane, and biodiesel/renewable diesel are key transition fuels, chosen based on engine type and route logistics.

Gaseous biofuels

Gaseous biofuels often leverage wastes and residues, offering low lifecycle emissions and flexible use in heat, power, and transport applications.

• Biogas: Produced via anaerobic digestion of manure, food waste, wastewater sludge, and crop residues; used for heat and electricity onsite or in local grids.
• Biomethane/Renewable Natural Gas (RNG): Upgraded biogas (CO₂ and impurities removed) for pipeline injection, vehicle fuel (bio‑CNG/bio‑LNG), and industrial uses.
• Biomass‑derived syngas: CO+H₂ from gasifying biomass; used for power or as an intermediate for fuels like FT liquids and methanol.
• Biohydrogen: Produced from reforming biogas or through fermentation; early‑stage for transport but relevant for industry and as a precursor to other fuels.
• Bio‑DME: Dimethyl ether from biomass‑derived methanol or black liquor; can replace propane for heating and serve as a diesel alternative in suited engines.

These gases can displace fossil natural gas and LPG directly, or serve as building blocks for advanced low‑carbon liquids, broadening decarbonization options beyond road fuels.

Solid biofuels

Solid biofuels remain vital for heating and power generation, particularly where industrial boilers and co‑firing infrastructure exist.

• Firewood and wood chips: Traditional fuels for residential and district heating, and for biomass power plants.
• Wood pellets: Densified biomass for consistent quality and transport; widely used in residential stoves and utility co‑firing.
• Agricultural residues: Bagasse, rice husks, and straw pellets for onsite heat/power in agro‑industries.
• Charcoal and biochar: Charcoal for cooking; biochar as a soil amendment with potential carbon removal benefits.
• Torrefied pellets: Heat‑treated biomass with higher energy density and improved handling for industrial use.

While not transport fuels, these options displace coal, oil, and gas in heat and power, often at competitive costs and with established supply chains.

Common feedstocks for biofuel production

Biofuels come from a wide spectrum of biomass, with sustainability and local availability shaping what’s used where.

• Sugar crops: Sugarcane, sugar beet for ethanol (especially efficient where cane grows).
• Starch crops: Corn/maize, wheat, cassava for ethanol in many regions.
• Oils and lipids: Rapeseed/canola, soybean, palm (with sustainability concerns), camelina, used cooking oil, and animal fats for FAME and HVO/HEFA.
• Lignocellulosic residues: Corn stover, wheat straw, forestry residues for cellulosic ethanol and BtL fuels.
• Organic wastes: Municipal biowaste, manure, and wastewater sludge for biogas/biomethane and waste‑to‑fuel pathways.
• Algae and microalgae: Lipid and carbohydrate platforms for future fuels; pilot‑to‑early commercial scale.

Waste‑ and residue‑based feedstocks generally deliver stronger greenhouse‑gas reductions and avoid land‑use impacts, a growing focus of policy and certification schemes.

How these fuels are used and labeled

Blending labels and standards help consumers and fleets match the right biofuel with their vehicles and engines.

• E5/E10/E15/E85: Ethanol blends for gasoline vehicles; E100 widely used in Brazil with dedicated engines.
• B5/B20/B100: FAME biodiesel blends for compression‑ignition engines, with B100 requiring compatibility and seasonal considerations.
• R99/R100: Renewable diesel sold as near‑pure or pure HVO; fully compatible with modern diesel engines.
• SAF blends: Most ASTM‑approved SAF pathways are certified up to 50% blends with conventional jet fuel in commercial aviation.
• Bio‑CNG/Bio‑LNG: Biomethane used in natural‑gas vehicles and heavy‑duty trucks, often via the existing gas network.

Vehicle manuals, local fuel standards, and seasonal conditions determine allowable blends, while drop‑in fuels like HVO minimize compatibility challenges.

Environmental and market context (2024–2025)

Renewable diesel capacity has expanded rapidly in North America and Europe, driven by incentives and low‑carbon fuel standards, while ethanol and FAME remain widespread globally. In aviation, the EU’s ReFuelEU Aviation regulation requires airlines to uplift minimum SAF shares at EU airports starting at 2% in 2025, rising to 6% by 2030 and increasing thereafter, with a dedicated sub‑target for synthetic aviation fuels. The U.S. supports SAF and low‑carbon fuels through tax credits and the Renewable Fuel Standard, with additional state‑level programs (e.g., California’s LCFS). Across regions, policies increasingly favor waste‑ and residue‑based feedstocks and stronger lifecycle greenhouse‑gas reductions, while addressing land‑use and biodiversity concerns.

Summary

Examples of biofuels span liquids (bioethanol, biodiesel, renewable diesel, biomethanol, biobutanol, SAF), gases (biogas/biomethane, syngas, bio‑DME, biohydrogen), and solids (wood pellets, charcoal, torrefied biomass). They are produced from sugars, starches, oils, residues, wastes, and algae, and used in road transport, aviation, marine shipping, power, and heating. Drop‑in options like renewable diesel and several SAF pathways ease adoption, while policy momentum and sustainability criteria increasingly shape which biofuels scale fastest.

What are the three main biofuels?

There are three main types of biofuel– ethanol, biodiesel and biojet fuel. Ethanol is used in engines that burn gasoline, like most cars, biodiesel is used in engines that burn diesel fuel, like trucks and tractors and biojet fuel is used in planes.

Which is the best biofuel?

Biodiesel made from rapeseed and canola oils releases less carbon monoxide than diesel fuel. Biodiesel made from rapeseed and canola is very efficient in powering heavy machinery and other vehicles. In general, engines that run on biodiesel are more efficient than gasoline-powered engines.

What is a primary biofuel?

Biofuels include two types: primary or secondary. Primary biofuels use a main resource directly in some type of unprocessed form. For example, wood pellets can heat a stove used to heat a home.

What are the examples of biofuels?

Examples of biofuels include bioethanol (from corn, sugarcane, or sugar beets), biodiesel (from vegetable oils, animal fats, or used cooking oil), biogas (from the digestion of organic waste), and primary biofuels like wood or biomass, which are used directly as fuel. These are all renewable energy sources produced from recent organic materials, such as plants, animal matter, and organic waste.
 
Types of Biofuel and Their Sources

• Bioethanol: An alcohol produced from the fermentation of sugars or starches found in crops like corn, sugarcane, and sugar beets. It’s often blended with gasoline for use in vehicles. 
• Biodiesel: A fuel made from vegetable oils (like canola or soybean oil), animal fats, or used cooking oil. 
• Biogas: A mixture of gases, primarily methane, created from the anaerobic digestion of organic materials such as animal manure and other waste. 
• Green Diesel: A renewable fuel, similar to biodiesel, derived from algae and other plant sources. 
• Primary Biofuels: These are organic materials used in their natural form for energy, including: 
  • Wood: Firewood and wood chips used for heating and electricity. 
  • Dung: Animal waste used directly for energy. 
  • Straw & Grass: Plant materials used for heat and power. 

Sources of Biofuel (Biomass)
Biofuels are derived from various organic materials, including: 

• Edible crops: Corn, sugarcane, and soybeans.
• Non-edible plant matter: Cellulosic materials like wheat straw, corn stover, and switchgrass.
• Waste materials: Used cooking oil, animal fats, and municipal solid waste.
• Algae: A newer source for next-generation biofuels.