In current history biofuels such as biodiesel and bioethanol have become huge company worldwide. Many nations have actually taken an eager interest in their continued manufacture and usage, including establishing nations such as Brazil which is seen as a world leader in biofuel development. Even smaller nations such as the United Kingdom presently use around one and a half million litres of a year and aim to increase this three-fold within the next ten years.

But wait, there's a problem.

There is nevertheless a considerable issue; with the boost in appeal of biofuels as has the level of criticism increased. From the "food versus fuel" debate, links to food rate boosts and effect of water resources to issues over logging and loss of biodiversity there are mounting obstacles for the fuel to overcome. But there is wish to be found in a variety of technologies broadly referred to as 2nd generation biofuels. Such fuels are produced from sustainable feedstock instead of the typically editable crops used in first generation biofuels (sugarcane, corn etc.) therefore avoiding a lot of the problems discussed previously.

Hope for the future

One such innovation is Algae Fuel, which can produce as much as 3 hundred times more oil per acre than standard crops in addition to growing twenty to thirty times faster. As if these advantages weren't substantial enough it is also possible to cultivate algae on typically unusable land such as land stricken by dry spell or including really high levels of saline. Another hugely appealing fuel is Cellulosic Ethanol which is just fuel produced from non-edible parts of plants (or certainly yards and other plants that are inedible). This fuel source shares some advantages with Algae fuel such as high per-acre productivity however has the unique advantage that no unique cultivation is needed. Cellulose is contained in virtually all plants growing across the world.

Or should that be expect the present?

These may seem like science-fiction but the truth of the matter is that by 2008 the United States was currently producing twelve million litres of fuel from cellulosic ethanol with production facilities capable for producing an extra eighty million gallons each year in advancement. There is much to be excited about in the Biofuel market from both a service and environmental perspective and continued development especially in 2nd generation technologies appears ensured. Such fast grown represents an interesting time for alternative energy production. To keep up with the current developments and market projections for alternative energy and biofuels it's recommended the reader delay to expert biofuel market analysis.