When the decomposition of biological matter takes place the end result is a fuel called bio-fuel. Plants are the primary source for biofuels. Biofuels exist in 3 basic forms, namely liquid, solid & gas.

Fossil fuels and biofuels - their differences. Here below are mentioned the dissimilarities between biofuels & fossil fuels:

• A million years is what fossil fuels require to come into existence but the time required for bio fuels is just a few days.
• Burning fossil fuels creates lots of pollution; on the other hand biofuels are eco-friendly.
• Fossil fuels as a source of energy cannot be renewed but biofuels are completely the opposite.

Various forms of biofuels

The 1st and foremost generation of biofuels comes from sugar, starch & vegetable fats that are solely dependent on food-crops. This 1st production fuels also can be sourced through animal fats. A couple of examples for this kind biofuels are vegetable oil, bio-diesel & biogas.

The 2nd generation comes via unwanted biomass; this form is a comparatively balanced alternative as against the 1st generation. Various types of diesel & alcohols gathered from wood are placed into this second generation category of biofuels.

The 3rd generation is established on the basis of biofuels got through algae. Farming of algae takes place on a huge scale to create such biofuels. These particular algae fuels tend to be exceptionally eco-friendly for the simple reason that such a bio-fuel will mix with the ground soil sans damaging the soil.

The last generation uses a method wherein fuel is made by making micro-organisms work in sync with carbon dioxide to get fuel.

Biofuels, its pros -

These are the benefits of Biofuels:

• The increasing burden on fossil fuels is reduced by using biofuels.
• Biofuels are eco-friendly. Carbon disbursement into the atmosphere is reduced.
• Biofuels like bio-diesel is a superb alternative energy source and quite cost-effective too.

Biofuels, its cons -

There are critics of Biofuels too. Bio fuels benefit the environment however there exists some cons, ironically from the environmental view point. Here below are some reasons pointing towards the reasons:

• For quite some time now economists have questioned whether biofuels of the 1st generation lead to food shortage. Crops produced keeping mind fuel leaves such crops not fit for human consumption. There is a school of thought that believes food must be grown for human consumption and not for making fuel.
• When biofuels are generated that means many hectares of cultivable land are being used which leads to disintegrating of the natural habitat of animals & plants.