Biofuels
Are used as a substitute to burning fossil fuels to produce usable energy, predominantly for use in combustion powered vehicles.
It can come in many different forms. Bioethanol is produced from sugar and starch crops that are fermented, and biodiesel can be made from recycled animal fat and vegetable oils. Often this method is quoted as being ‘environmentally friendly’ but there is some doubt as to the validity of bioethanol as a renewable energy source. Plantations have been specifically grown using artificial methods to quicken the process. The cost to the natural environment is significant as rainforests are cleared, driving many animal and plant species to the edge of extinction. Biofuels are sometimes referred to as renewable, yet the natural environment is often destroyed as a result. A more correct label for this energy source is perhaps 'carbon neutral' as the plants are grown specifically to be burned.
