Environmental Policy Terminology

BIOFUELS
The concept behind biofuels relies on the CO2 consumed during the growth of a bio-fuel crop, which is later released at the point of combustion.

FIRST GENERATION BIOFUELS
Are largely derived from the fruit or grain of the plant. Cultivation can compete with food production. When produced in a sustainable manner, first generation biofuels still represent an important step in the right direction. Large amounts of such biofuels are being produced in countries such as Brazil, where the CO2 balance is extremely positive.

SECOND GENERATION BIOFUELS
Are produced from agricultural residue and waste materials (biomass), and have a high yield per unit area. Such fuels have the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 90 per cent. The sustainable nature of second generation biofuels means that they do not compete with food production, nor do they require destruction of natural habitats to expand.

THIRD GENERATION BIOFUELS
Third generation bioethanol can be produced using intensively farmed algae. Currently, production methods are in their infancy.

BIOMASS
Covers a wide range of organic material from crops such as corn, soybeans, sugar and switchgrass, as well as agricultural waste and forestry residues. It also includes landfill and municipal solid waste. Biomass can be used for conversion into liquid fuels, such as bioethanol, biomethanol, biodiesel and also electricity and hydrogen.

FLEXFUEL
(Also known as FFV, flexible-fuel or dual-fuel) describes engine technology which enables vehicles to run on any mix of gasoline and bioethanol. A sensor in the fuel supply circuit detects the blending ratio of the fuel. FlexFuel systems can run on biofuels where available, gasoline where not, or on any mix of the two.

WELL-TO-WHEEL
Is the widely accepted measure of energy efficiency and has been defined by European Commission advisers as ‘the integration of all steps required to produce and distribute a fuel (starting from the primary energy resource) and use it in a vehicle’. (See figure 2 above).

LIGNOCELLULOSE
Is material found in the stalks of crop waste and can be utilised to provide the biomass required for bioethanol production, a second generation biofuel.

BIOETHENOL (First Generation)
Can be used as a gasoline replacement in flex-fuel cars and is sold as E85 (85% Bioethanol, 15% Gasoline ). It offers net CO2 reduction of between 50 – 80% on a Well-to-Wheel basis.

BIODIESEL (First Generation)
Is manufactured from renewable raw materials, often food crops. It can be blended with diesel (Biodiesel 10%,Diesel 90%) and used in diesel cars.

CELLULOSE ETHANOL (Second Generation)
A biofuel for use in FlexFuel engines as a gasoline replacement. Its advantage is that it uses biomass, such as crop waste, as the raw material. It offers consistently high CO2 reductions of 90% on a Well-to-Wheel basis, whilst remaining sustainable.

BIOMASS-TO-LIQUID (BTL) (Second Generation)
Is a bio-fuel aimed at replacing diesel through an advanced process utilizing biomass as the raw materials. It offers consistently high CO2 reductions of 90% on a Well-To-Wheel basis.