Plant-Based Biofuels: A Sustainable Solution for Energy Production

Abstract

The excessive use of non-renewable energy sources has inflicted severe damage on the environment, prompting the need for renewable energy alternatives. While renewable energies like solar, wind, and hydropower hold potential, their resource requirements for manufacturing devices cannot be ignored. This chapter proposes biofuels as a promising solution to tackle the increasing demand for energy and depleting resources. Plant-based biofuels obtained from energy crops demonstrate higher efficiency for biofuel production than those derived from biowastes and algae. This chapter delves into the various processes involved in converting vegetable oils, crop byproducts, and wastes into biofuels. It also explores the recent techniques and new varieties of crop sources for biofuel production. The use of plant-based biofuels poses a lower environmental threat as they have a low net release of carbon dioxide and sulfur. Therefore, plant-based biofuels are the only form of renewable energy that can completely replace fossil fuels for our present and future energy constraints. Overall, this chapter highlights the significance of biofuels as a renewable energy alternative and their potential to mitigate the environmental impact caused by non-renewable energy sources. The incorporation of plant-based biofuels in our energy systems could significantly contribute to a sustainable future. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.