Biofuels are made from raw materials such as oilseeds, wheat and sugar, resulting in ethanol (alcohol) or biodiesel.
These fuels can be seen as carbon neutral as they release the same amount of carbon dioxide as they take out during the recent growth cycle as opposed to unlocking ancient carbon through burning fossil fuels.
However the use of fertilizers and other chemicals to grow fuel crops such as corn/maize, the transport and energy needed to convert to biofuels does bring them back from being carbon neutral.
It’s also believed only so much land can be set aside to grow biofuels before food supplies and biodiversity are threatened.
Sustainable biofuel production is being regulated however, and the use of biofuel in mobile generators is still encouraged as a viable greenhouse gas emissions reduction option.
Biofuels are also a stepping stone to more sustainable and viable long term fuel solutions for our planet. Using biodiesel builds demand for renewable fuels, encourages a market for and demonstrates potential viability for advancement in second and third generation biofuel technologies.
Waste Vegetable Biodiesel (WVO)
If it is avaialble and also at a grade that generator manufacturers will uphold the warranties - generally ISO 14214 - then you are encouraged to use biodiesel manufactured from waste vegetable oil.
Biofuel Trivia: The man that diesel is named after, Rudolf Diesel, ran his first engine on peanut oil.