Biofuels are produced from organic materials. They emit no more CO2 than that fixed by the plants when they were growing.

Biogas

Biogas is used for gas-powered vehicles. It is produced by fermenting vegetable and timber waste. It consists of about two thirds methane and one third carbon dioxide. Sewage is another source of biogas, and is being pioneered for public transportation in many cities. If a million or so tonnes of organic waste produced were transformed in this way, it would enable approximately 100,000 vehicles to run 10,000 km (6,200 miles) per year. Biogas is used not only as a vehicle fuel, but also to produce heat and electricity.

Bioethanol

Bioethanol is an additive for petrol (gasoline) or diesel. It is made from vegetable matter. It already used most famously in Brazil, where some vehicles can use pure bioethanol. It costs the motorist the same as traditional petrol, since it is not taxed. Cars need no adaptation to run on this. To use this fuel, both vehicles and pumps need slight modifications. A pilot ethanol production plant opened in Canton Solothurn in 2004, using timber waste as the main raw material. The first flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) able to use either petrol or bioethanol have already been launched.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel can be produced from vegetable oils, usually rape seed, through a chemical process. Even oil that has been used for frying can be transformed into diesel. It produces fewer fine particles than ordinary diesel, and almost no sulphur. It can be used alone or mixed with other diesels.

Supporters of biofuels say that the addition of five percent bioethanol to traditional fuels would reduce CO2 emissions and It would also create jobs, particularly in the hard-pressed agricultural and forestry sectors, and reduce countries dependence on foreign fuel suppliers. However, the actual production of bioethanol currently requires a lot of energy.

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