There are actually a number of appellations regarding this energy source. In some parts of the world, biofuels are known as bioenergy. In others, the appellations range anywhere from agro-fuel to agri-fuel; to more definitive labels such as: bioalcohol, biobutanol, biodiesel, biogas, bioheat, biohyrdrogen, bio-oil, biomass, green crude, and a host of others.

What Is Biofuel?

Biofuel is a rather broad term that is supposed to mean an alternative and renewable energy source derived from any biological material. Biofuel may come in any state: solid, liquid or gas; however most biofuels available now are made up of plant material. That does not discount the fact that there are biofuels derived the gas emitted from decomposing material; solar wind power; and used (and recycled) vegetable oil.

Is It Really Hype?

People are seriously looking into the possibilities of harvesting more sources of biofuel. So far, our age has seen the most active researches into alternative fuel sources – and unfortunately, this is not hype at all. Scientists from all fields of research, from geology to oceanography to geographic history, are now saying that our planet cannot sustain our fuel need for very much longer. We are already depleting our present sources with severe consequences.

Too much released carbon into our atmosphere (from the burning of fossil fuel to the destruction of the rain forests of the world) is causing global warming. And global warming, in turn, causes almost everything from unnatural season changes, severe atmospheric disturbances and the dying of flora and fauna.

The truth is: biofuel is not the solution to global warming at all. It is only one of many ways to help slow down the erosion of the earth’s ozone layer. There is actually no sustainable way (as of late) to halt the decline of the planet’s health, much less revert it back to a healthy level of life.

Biofuel now is very much studied and placed into practice, but further research is still needed in order to prove that it will not eventually follow the steps we have unerringly taken with fossil fuel.

Biofuel In History

Biofuel is really not a new concept. The truth is: humankind has been utilizing bio fuel since time immemorial. Before the industrialization age, before any civilization, before any onset of civilized religion, man has used the readily available fuel source from nature. The first humans used all manner of plant fibers, animal fat and even animal dung to feed the fires. In some cases, the geothermic heat coming from volcano fissures were harnessed to cook meals and even keep shelters warm. The scorching heat and the dry air were used to preserve food; as with fresh produce being kept for longer periods of time in cool but dry underground caves.

In the coming ages, though, there has been a great need for industrialization. Suddenly, a few logs in the fire are not enough to keep production of all things serviceable to mankind. At first, we have all looked to the use of fossil fuel and have used it extensively. In fact, the world’s economy now is largely dependent on the burning of fossil fuels. But fossil fuel, once seemingly inexhaustible, is slowly eroding.

This is the reason why people are looking for alternative fuel source. If you really want proof of the decline of fossil fuel, just look into major newspapers or news agencies these days and scout out how high petroleum based products are. These said products come from crude oil, which is one form of fossil fuel.

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