Biofuels are renewable fuels are made from biomass materials, produced through biological processes such as anaerobic digestion or agriculture, rather than the fuels produced through geological processes such as coal and petroleum. Biofuels primarily include ethanol and biodiesel and have numerous advantages such as lower carbon emissions over fossil fuels. Ethanol and biodiesel are usually blended with petroleum fuels (gasoline and diesel fuel), but they can also be used on their own. Using ethanol or biodiesel means less gasoline and diesel fuel is burned, which can reduce the amount of crude oil imported from other countries. Ethanol and biodiesel are also cleanerburning fuels than pure gasoline and diesel fuel. Technologies to produce biodiesel from waste oil and animal fat feedstock are technically mature and provided 6-8% of all biofuel output in the last decade. However, production of novel advanced biofuels from other technologies is still modest, with progress needed to improve technology readiness. These technologies are important nevertheless as they can utilise feedstock with high availability and limited other uses. | Advances in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering in the production of biofuel
