Algae + CO2 = Biofuel

As the term suggests, bio-fuels are fuels that are formed when biological matter, primarily plants, decomposes. Bio-fuels can exist in all the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.

Bio-fuels are different from fossil fuels in the following ways:

• Fossil fuels take millions of years to form whereas bio-fuels can be made extremely quickly, in a matter of days.
• Fossil fuels generate huge amounts of pollution. Bio-fuels are comparatively cleaner.
• Bio-fuels are renewable sources of energy unlike fossil fuels.

Bio-fuels have been categorized into four types: first generation, second generation, third generation, and fourth generation.

The first generation biofuels are derived from vegetable fats, starch, and sugar, which are in turn derived from food crops. The first generation fuels are also derived from animal fats. Biogas, biodiesel, and vegetable oil are some examples of this type of biofuel.

The second generation of biofuels is mainly derived from waste biomass, making it a more balanced option compared to the first-generation biofuels. Different kinds of alcohols and diesel generated from wood fall into the category of second generation biofuels.

The third generation comprises biofuels derived from algae. Algae can be farmed on large scales to create these biofuels, which are extremely environmentally friendly as they can easily decompose into the soil without harming it.

The biofuels in the fourth generation are derived by a method in which micro-organisms are raised to work with carbon dioxide to generate fuel.

Advantages of biofuels

• Biofuels lessen the burden on gradually-vanishing fossil fuels.
• Biofuels are environmentally friendly. They help reduce carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
• Biofuels, especially, biodiesel prove to be very cost-effective for consumers.

Disadvantages of biofuels
Biofuels are not bereft of criticism. Though beneficial for the environment, biofuels have their disadvantages, paradoxically in the environmental purview. Biofuels have received criticism for many reasons, a couple of which are stated below:

• Economists have long debated on the usefulness of first generation biofuels when compared to the lack of food they cause. Generating fuel from food crops makes food crops unworthy of human consumption. Some people believe that being a higher priority than fuel, food should not be farmed for making fuels but for human consumption.
• Making biofuels require acres of farming land, thus encroaching upon the natural habitat of plants and animals.

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