Propblems and prospects of obtaining and sing biomass fuels that reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The energy crisis and steady demand for energy sources lead to keen interest in alternative sources of fuel production including biomass usage for generating electricity and for transportation. Stricter requirements for the environmental characteristics of fuels and power plants have led to a far-reaching search for new, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly energy carriers. The article discusses and analyzes the issues of production and use of biofuels, which are currently considered priority alternative fuels in many regions of the world. The main ways and technologies of obtaining biofuels of the first and second generations, their most important properties, environmental characteristics and their impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions are considered. It is likely that second-generation biofuels obtained by using Fischer-Tropsch technology have significant advantages over first-generation biofuels and it can be assumed that because of relatively cheap biomass resources they might create competition for petroleum fuels in certain regions of Europe and the world The potential benefits of expanding biofuels and bioenergy use might be gained due to economy development, new jobs, especially in the agricultural and forestry sectors, environmental enhancement and energy security improvement in a number of regions and countries. It can be expected that in the medium term period future technological advances will increase the competitiveness of biofuels of both the first and second generations. Currently, European countries are considering increasing the production of biofuels as a way to reduce the level of energy dependence on Russian oil and gas import and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It should be noted that there are quite a lot of neglected lands in Russia that can be used for growing crops for bioenergetics demands, both for internal consumption and for export thus increasing the potential in the global biofuel markets.

Biomass, biofuels, greenhouse gases, first and second generation biofuels, Fischer-Tropsch technology