Glossary:Biofuels
Biofuels are fuels derived directly or indirectly from biomass. Biofuels used for non-energy purposes are excluded from the scope of energy statistics (for example wood used for construction or as furniture, biolubricant for engine lubrication and biobitumen used for road surface).
Biofuels can be split up into three categories:
- Solid biofuels (fuelwood, wood residues, wood pellets, animal waste, vegetal material, ...)
- Liquid biofuels (biogasoline, biodiesel, bio jet kerosene, ...)
- Biogases (from anaerobic fermentation and from thermal processes)
Solid biofuels covers solid organic, non-fossil material of biological origin (also known as biomass) which may be used as fuel for heat production or electricity generation. In energy statistics, solid biofuels is a product aggregate equal to the sum of charcoal, fuelwood, wood residues and by-products, black liquor, bagasse, animal waste, other vegetal materials and residuals and renewable fraction of industrial waste.
Biogas is a gas composed principally of methane and carbon dioxide produced by anaerobic digestion of biomass or by thermal processes from biomass, including biomass in waste. In energy statistics, biogas is a product aggregate equal to the sum of landfill gas, sewage sludge gas, other biogases from anaerobic digestion and biogases from thermal processes.
Liquid biofuels includes all liquid fuels of natural origin (e.g. produced from biomass and/or the biodegradable fraction of waste), suitable to be blended with or replace liquid fuels from fossil origin. In energy statistics, liquid biofuels is a product aggregate equal to the sum of biogasoline, biodiesels, bio jet kerosene and other liquid biofuels.
Further information
- Energy statistics, European and national metadata (ESMS metadata file)
- Energy balances (ESMS metadata file)
- Supply, transformation and consumption - commodity balances (ESMS metadata file)