2% of global electricity is generated from Biofuels

Biofuels are a type of energy that is derived from living or recently-living biological material, or biomass, such as plant matter, animal waste, and even certain types of fungus. As such, biofuels are considered a renewable source of energy because their primary inputs are readily replenished and available in nature. This form of energy can be used to generate electricity and heat, and can also be used as fuel for transportation. Biofuels are effectively a storage system for solar energy, as the biomass materials they are derived from originally stored the sun's energy through photosynthesis.

To generate electricity from biofuels, the biological material is first processed to extract its stored energy. The most common method of extraction is combustion, where the biofuel is burned to produce heat, which then generates steam. This steam drives a turbine that is connected to a generator, thus producing electricity. There are also other methods such as anaerobic digestion and pyrolysis, which break down the biofuel in an environment without air or at high temperatures respectively. The resulting gases can then be burned to generate electricity.

One of the key advantages of biofuels is their low carbon intensity. The International Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) data reveals the carbon intensity of biofuels stands at 230 gCO2eq/kWh. This is dramatically lower than traditional fossil fuels such as coal and gas, which have a carbon intensity of 820 and 490 gCO2eq/kWh respectively. This means that for each unit of electricity generated, biofuels release significantly less carbon dioxide, thereby contributing less to global warming.

Additionally, biofuels make up a substantial share of electricity generation in many countries. Globally, they contribute to 2.36% of all electricity consumed. In some countries, this percentage is even higher. For instance, in Finland, biofuels generate 10% of the country's electricity. Similarly, in Germany, 10% of electricity is generated from biofuels. In Denmark, that figure is 14%, while in Estonia it is 8%. The highest use of biofuels is found in Guadeloupe, where a remarkable 21% of electricity comes from biofuels.

Moreover, when compared to other low-carbon energy sources like wind, nuclear and solar, biofuels hold their own. Looking at the carbon intensity data from IPCC, these forms of energy produce less carbon dioxide per unit of electricity, with nuclear at 12 gCO2eq/kWh, wind at 11 gCO2eq/kWh and solar at 45 gCO2eq/kWh. From an environmental perspective, this implies that all these energy sources, including biofuels, contribute less to climate change than their fossil fuel equivalents.

In conclusion, biofuels present significant advantages as a source of energy, especially given their low carbon emissions compared with fossil fuels and their substantial contribution to global electricity generation. However, it is paramount that in our pursuit of clean energy, we continue to strongly advocate for the use and expansion of nuclear, wind and solar energy, given their even lower rates of carbon emission.