Powering the Future: Biofuels

Activity: Biofuel feedstocks Classify biofuel feedstocks Compare biofuel feedstocks Suggest the pros and cons of biofuel feedstocks according to their properties

To help combat climate change the UK has a target to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by % of the UK renewable energy could come from biomass heat and electricity by To meet the European Renewable Energy Directive, the UK is aiming for 10% of transport energy to be from renewable sources by % of the sustainable renewable road transport fuel used in the UK between April 2012 and April 2013 came from UK feedstocks. Facts and Figures

Oil seedrape: Brassica napus is the third most important crop in the UK after wheat and barley. Also known as Canola.

Soya beans: Glycine max is a legume primarily grown in the USA for the beans which can be used for food or biofuels.

Castor beans: Ricinus communis, the castor oil plant, is found throughout tropical regions. The raw beans are toxic.

Jatropha curcas: Jatropha curcas is grown in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly Mexico and India, for the production of biodiesel. It is a relatively low- input crop grown on non-food producing marginal land.

Wheat: Triticum spp. are cereal crops grown throughout the world. Wheat is grown on more land than any other crop. Wheat ears contain large amounts of starch and globally only rice provides more food for humans.

Maize: Zea mays is a cereal crop commonly known as corn that is grown predominantly in the USA, Canada and Australia and includes popcorn and sweetcorn

Sweet Sorghum: A group of grasses that are high in sugar content and grown in the USA and India.

Sugar beet: Beta vulgaris, produces the majority of sugar cultivated in colder climates from it’s tuber. It has a high sucrose concentration.

Sugar cane: Saccharum officianarum, is a memebr of the grass family that grows quickly and is an efficient photosynthesiser that grows best in warm climates.

Barley stem: One of the family of grasses, genus Hordeum. Produces valuable grains used for food, and for making malt, from which are prepared beer, ale, and whisky.

Miscanthus: Miscanthus giganteus is one of a number of fast growing grass which produces biomass very quickly, without competing with the food chain.

Willow: There are about 350 species of this fast growing tree and they can be grown on land unsuitable for growing food.

Activity: Biofuel feedstocks Classify biofuel feedstocks Compare biofuel feedstocks Suggest the pros and cons of biofuel feedstocks according to their properties

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