Four Plant-Derived Biofuels and How They Power the World

The four widely recognized biofuel products made from plants are bioethanol, biodiesel (FAME), biogas/biomethane, and solid biomass fuels (such as wood pellets or charcoal). These fuels convert plant sugars, oils, fibers, and residues into usable energy for transport, heat, and power, each with distinct production methods, applications, and sustainability profiles.

The four plant-based biofuels at a glance

Below is a concise overview of the primary biofuels derived from plant materials, spanning liquid, gaseous, and solid forms commonly used in today’s energy systems.

• Bioethanol: An alcohol fuel produced by fermenting plant sugars and starches; primarily blended with gasoline.
• Biodiesel (FAME): Fatty acid methyl esters made by transesterifying plant oils; blended with or substituted for diesel.
• Biogas/Biomethane: Methane-rich gas from anaerobic digestion of plant biomass and residues; upgraded biomethane replaces fossil natural gas.
• Solid biomass fuels: Densified wood pellets, chips, agricultural briquettes, and charcoal used for heat and power.

Together, these categories cover the dominant plant-based fuel pathways in commercial use, with regional variations in feedstocks, policy support, and end markets.

Bioethanol

Bioethanol is produced by fermenting sugars from crops such as sugarcane, corn, and sugar beet, or by breaking down cellulose and hemicellulose from agricultural residues (like corn stover, bagasse, or wheat straw) and energy grasses (such as switchgrass and miscanthus). After fermentation, ethanol is distilled and dehydrated to fuel grade.

In transport, ethanol is blended with gasoline (e.g., E10–E15 globally, E85 for flex-fuel vehicles). It also serves as a feedstock for sustainable aviation fuel via alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) processes and for chemical intermediates like bio-ethylene. Benefits include octane enhancement and reduced tailpipe CO, though lifecycle emissions depend on farming practices, process energy, and land-use effects. Advanced “cellulosic” ethanol can significantly improve carbon intensity by using residues and dedicated energy crops.

Biodiesel (FAME)

Biodiesel refers to fatty acid methyl esters produced by transesterifying plant oils—such as soybean, rapeseed/canola, palm, and increasingly non-food oils like camelina, carinata, and cover-crop oils—with methanol and a catalyst. The resulting FAME is blended into petroleum diesel (commonly B5–B20), and B100 is used in specific engines and climates.

Biodiesel lowers particulate matter and CO emissions and can deliver meaningful lifecycle GHG reductions versus fossil diesel when sourced from sustainable feedstocks. Cold-flow properties, oxidation stability, and material compatibility can limit high blends in some conditions. A related but distinct fuel, renewable diesel (HVO/HEFA), is also made from plant oils but via hydrotreating; while not FAME biodiesel, it is fully diesel-compatible and growing rapidly in markets with low-carbon fuel policies.

Biogas and Biomethane

Biogas is generated by anaerobic digestion of plant-derived materials—energy crops, food waste, crop residues, and agro-industrial byproducts—producing a mixture typically ~50–65% methane and the rest CO₂ plus trace gases. Upgrading (removing CO₂ and impurities) yields biomethane (renewable natural gas), which can be injected into gas grids, used for heating, or as a vehicle fuel in CNG/LNG form.

Plant-based biogas systems turn low-value residues into dispatchable energy and can deliver strong GHG benefits by avoiding methane emissions from decomposing biomass. Performance hinges on feedstock logistics, digester management, and utilization of co-products like nutrient-rich digestate as fertilizer.

Solid biomass fuels

Solid biofuels include wood pellets, chips, agricultural-residue briquettes, and charcoal produced from forestry and crop byproducts or dedicated energy plantations. Pellets are densified for efficient transport and consistent combustion; charcoal and biochar are produced via pyrolysis, with biochar also used for soil improvement and long-term carbon storage.

These fuels supply space heating, industrial heat, and utility-scale power in some regions. Sustainability depends on forest management, residue removal rates, and emissions controls. Modern high-efficiency stoves, boilers, and combined heat and power systems improve air quality and conversion efficiency compared with traditional biomass burning.

How they compare

While all four options derive from plants, they differ in infrastructure needs, energy density, and ideal use cases. Key distinctions include the following considerations.

• Infrastructure fit: Ethanol integrates with gasoline systems; biodiesel and renewable diesel with diesel engines; biomethane with gas grids and CNG/LNG vehicles; solid biomass with boilers and power plants.
• Carbon intensity: Lifecycle GHG reductions vary by feedstock and process energy—generally higher for residues and wastes than for food-grade crops.
• Scalability and land use: Residue-based and waste-based pathways reduce land-use pressure; dedicated energy crops can boost yields but require careful sustainability safeguards.
• Air quality and performance: Liquid and gaseous fuels typically offer cleaner combustion and easier emissions control than traditional solid biomass burning.

Selecting the “right” biofuel is highly context-dependent, guided by available feedstocks, policy incentives, end-use equipment, and sustainability criteria.

Context and alternatives

Some frameworks list fast-pyrolysis bio-oil as a core plant-derived fuel, which can be upgraded to advanced drop-in fuels, and include biobutanol or biomethanol as emerging alcohol fuels. However, the four detailed above remain the most widely deployed and recognized plant-based biofuel products in current markets.

Summary

The four principal biofuel products from plants are bioethanol, biodiesel (FAME), biogas/biomethane, and solid biomass fuels like wood pellets or charcoal. Each taps a different part of the plant—sugars, oils, or lignocellulosic fibers—and slots into distinct energy systems. Their real-world climate and air-quality benefits depend on sustainable feedstocks, efficient conversion, and responsible land management.

What are the 4th generation biofuels?

Fourth generation biofuel (FGB) uses genetically modified (GM) algae to enhance biofuel production. Although GM algae biofuel is a well-known alternative to fossil fuels, the potential environmental and health-related risks are still of great concern.

What are the 4 types of fossil fuels?

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, coal products, natural gas, derived gas, crude oil, petroleum products and non-renewable wastes.

What are the four types of biofuels?

Types of Biofuel:

• Biodiesel.
• Bioethanol.
• Biogas.
• Biohydrogen.

What are biofuel products from plants?

Biofuel products from plants include bioethanol, produced from the fermentation of sugars and starches in crops like corn and sugarcane, and biodiesel, made by processing vegetable oils from plants such as soybeans and sunflowers through transesterification. Other plant-based biofuels are biojet fuel for aircraft and renewable diesel. These fuels, categorized as liquid biofuels, serve as renewable replacements for gasoline and diesel.
 
Liquid Biofuels

• Bioethanol: Opens in new tabProduced from plants high in sugar or starch through fermentation, such as corn, sugarcane, wheat, and potatoes. It is commonly blended with gasoline to improve engine performance and reduce emissions. 
• Biodiesel: Opens in new tabMade from vegetable oils (soy, sunflower, rapeseed, corn oil) or used cooking oil via a process called transesterification. It is used in diesel engines for vehicles like trucks and tractors. 
• Biojet Fuel: Opens in new tabA renewable fuel for aircraft, produced from various biomass sources. 
• Renewable Diesel: Opens in new tabSimilar in chemical composition to petroleum diesel, it can be a “drop-in” fuel for diesel engines. 

Other Plant-Based Biofuels

• Biogas: A fuel gas often produced from the decomposition of organic matter, including agricultural waste. 
• Bio-oil: A liquid product created from the pyrolysis of biomass in the absence of oxygen. 

Sources of Plant Biomass 

• Sugar crops: Sugarcane, sugar beets
• Starch crops: Corn, potatoes, rice
• Oilseed crops: Soybeans, sunflowers, rapeseed
• Non-edible plants: Switchgrass, jatropha, and other sources of lignocellulosic biomass are used to produce advanced biofuels.
• Algae: Can be a source of both oils for biodiesel and biomass for other biofuels.