Biofuels and Other Renewable Resources

The world's search for greener fuels, a desire to reduce dependence on imported oil and the impact of higher oil prices, has moved biofuels to the forefront over the past few years. Platts not only assesses the price of a dozen key renewable biofuels, such as ethanol in North America and Europe and biodiesel in North America, Europe and Asia, but also covers the news side of the 'food versus fuel' debate which continues to rage. The greenhouse gas benefits of many biofuels are still widely questioned.

Many governments have renewable fuel mandates that are dictating the use of more and more of these fuels but the real, tangible economic benefits of these policies are also an issue. Increasing there is a bias towards second-generation biofuels made from non-food feedstocks, such as those made via cellulosic technology.