Biofuel is a renewable fuel made from organic materials, or biomass, such as plants, vegetable oils, used cooking oils, and animal fats. Unlike fossil fuels, which come from finite resources such as crude oil, biofuels are produced from renewable sources and can provide a lower-carbon alternative for applications such as transportation and heating.
Biofuel is a broad category that includes several types of renewable fuels. Biodiesel is one specific type of biofuel commonly used in blends with conventional diesel fuel or heating oil. Understanding the relationship between these renewable fuels can help businesses evaluate how they may fit into their operations and sustainability goals.
What Is Biofuel?
Biofuel refers to fuel produced from renewable biological materials, commonly known as biomass. Rather than being one specific product, it is a broad category of renewable fuels that can be produced from a variety of organic feedstocks and used for different energy applications.
Liquid biofuels include fuels such as biodiesel, which can be blended with petroleum-based fuels for transportation and heating applications.
Put simply, biofuel is the broader renewable-fuel category, while biodiesel is one specific type of biofuel.
What Is Biodiesel?
Biodiesel is a renewable liquid fuel made from feedstocks such as vegetable oils, used cooking oils, and animal fats. It is produced through a process called transesterification, which converts these feedstocks into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME).
Biodiesel can be blended with conventional diesel fuel for transportation applications or with heating oil for heating applications. Blend names such as B5 and B20 indicate the percentage of biodiesel contained in the finished fuel.
Businesses interested in available products and blend options can explore Sprague’s commercial Biofuel and Biodiesel solutions.
What Are Biofuels Made From?
Biofuels can be produced from a variety of renewable biological materials. Depending on the type of fuel and production process, common feedstocks can include:
- Vegetable oils
- Used cooking oils
- Animal fats
- Other renewable biological materials
The feedstock used, along with the production process, helps determine the characteristics and potential applications of the finished fuel.
Are Biofuels Renewable?
Yes. Biofuels are considered renewable because they are produced from biological materials that can be replenished, rather than finite fossil resources such as crude oil.
The environmental impact of a particular fuel can vary depending on factors such as the feedstock, production process, transportation, and how the finished fuel is used. For that reason, lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions are commonly considered when evaluating the environmental benefits of renewable fuels.
For additional information about biodiesel and other alternative fuels, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center.
How Are Biofuels Used?
Biofuels can be used across a variety of energy applications, including transportation and heating. Two applications particularly relevant to the Northeast are biodiesel blended with road diesel and biodiesel blended with heating oil.
Transport
Biodiesel can be blended with conventional diesel fuel for use in compatible diesel-powered vehicles and equipment. Different blend levels allow renewable content to be incorporated into road diesel based on the application and operational requirements.
For information about commercially available products and blend options, explore Sprague’s commercial Biofuel and Biodiesel solutions.
Heating
Biodiesel can also be blended with conventional heating oil, incorporating renewable content into liquid heating fuel. These blends are commonly associated with Bioheat® fuel and can be used in compatible oil-heating equipment.
Biofuel vs. Biodiesel: What’s the Difference?
Biofuel is a broad category of fuels produced from renewable biological materials, while biodiesel is a specific type of liquid biofuel. Biodiesel is produced from renewable fats and oils and can be blended with conventional diesel fuel or heating oil for transportation and heating applications.
The distinction is important because the term “biofuel” can refer to multiple renewable fuels, while “biodiesel” refers to a specific fuel with its own production process, specifications, and applications.
Why Are Biofuels Important?
Biofuels provide an opportunity to incorporate renewable energy into applications that have traditionally relied on petroleum-based fuels. Depending on the fuel, feedstock, and application, they can help reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions while supporting broader sustainability and emissions-reduction goals.
For businesses that rely on liquid fuels for transportation or heating, renewable fuel options can provide another way to incorporate renewable content into existing energy use.
To learn more about available products and blend options, visit Sprague’s Biofuel and Biodiesel page.
