Why biofuels?

 

Transport continues to be one of the main sectors that consume energy and are responsible for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Portugal and in the European Union, with a very high dependence on petroleum products. In 2017, transport was responsible for more than 30% of final energy consumption in the European Union and more than 37% in Portugal.

 

As a result, this should be a priority sector in the definition of policies and measures that promote security of supply and the diversification of the energy mix, through the use of more sustainable alternatives, with positive impacts on the reduction of dependence on oil, as well as on the reduction of GHG emissions associated with this sector.

 

Biomass can make an interesting contribution here, through its use for the production of liquid and gaseous biofuels. To date, these have constituted the most accessible and easy-to-implement solution for the introduction of renewable energy sources in transport, and can be introduced into consumption using existing infrastructures.

 

Under current legislation, biofuels are considered to be liquid or gaseous fuels produced from biomass and used in transport.

 

The 2003 directive on this matter listed the following products as examples of some types of biofuels:

 

• Biodiesel – methyl ester produced from vegetable or animal oils, with fuel quality for diesel engines, for use as biofuel, whose composition and properties comply with EN 14214, also known as FAME;

 

• Bioetanol – ethanol produced from biomass and/or the biodegradable fraction of waste for use as biofuel;

 

• Biomethanol – methanol produced from biomass for use as biofuel;Bio-DME – dimethyl ether produced from biomass for use as biofuel;

 

• Bio-ETBE – ethyl tert-butyl ether produced from bioethanol, with the percentage by volume of bio-ETBE considered as biofuel equal to 37%;

 

• Bio-MTBE – methyl tert-butyl ether produced based on biomethanol, with the percentage by volume of bio-MTBE considered a renewable source equal to 22%;

 

• Biogas – fuel gas produced from biomass and/or the biodegradable fraction of waste, which can be purified to the quality of natural gas, for use as biofuel, or wood gas;

 

• Fischer-Tropsch gas oil – synthetic hydrocarbons or mixtures of synthetic hydrocarbons produced from biomass;

 

• Biohydrogen – hydrogen produced from biomass and/or the biodegradable fraction of waste for use as biofuel;

 

• Pure vegetable oil – oil produced by pressure, extraction or comparable processes, from oleaginous plants, raw or refined, but chemically unaltered, when its use is compatible with the type of engines and the respective emission requirements;

 

• Hydrogenated vegetable oil – thermochemically hydrogenated vegetable oil;