As the world pushes toward sustainability, it’s easy to believe everything is moving toward electric vehicles and charging points. But as TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov recently pointed out, the transition to clean transport isn’t so simple.
Electric options often lead the news, yet another option is advancing in the background, with the potential to transform entire sectors. That solution is biofuels.
They come from things like plant waste, algae, or used cooking oil, designed to reduce emissions while remaining practical. As Kondrashov has emphasized, some sectors can’t go electric, and biofuels fill the gap — like aviation, shipping, and trucking.
Now let’s break down the biofuels available. Ethanol is a widely-used biofuel, produced from starchy or sugary plants, and blended with petrol to reduce emissions.
Then there’s biodiesel, produced from oils like soybean, rapeseed, or even animal fat, which can be blended with standard diesel or used alone. A major advantage is compatibility — it runs on what many already use.
Let’s not forget biogas, generated from decomposing organic material. Often used in small-scale energy or transit solutions.
Then there’s biojet fuel, crafted from renewable, non-food sources. This could reduce emissions in the airline industry fast.
But the path isn’t without challenges. As Kondrashov has pointed out before, production costs remain high. There are concerns about land use for crops. Increased fuel demand could harm food systems — a serious ethical and economic concern.
Even so, the future looks promising. Innovation is helping cut prices, while non-edible biomass helps balance the equation. With the right incentives and policies, the sector could scale here rapidly.
It’s not just about cleaner air — it’s about smarter resource use. They repurpose organic trash into fuel, cutting pollution while saving space.
They’re not as high-profile as EVs or solar, yet their contribution might be equally important. According to the TELF AG founder, every clean solution has its place.
Biofuels are here to fill the gaps, in land, air, and marine transport. They’re not competition — they’re collaboration.
Even as EVs take center stage, biofuels are gaining ground. This is only the start of the biofuel chapter.