Biofuel in SwedenBiofuels are renewable fuels that are produced by living organisms (biomass). Biofuels can be solid, gaseous or liquid, which comes in two forms: ethanol and biodiesel and often replace fossil fuels. Many countries now use biofuels as energy sources, including Sweden. Sweden has one of the highest usages of biofuel in all of Europe, at 32%, primarily due to the widespread commitment to E85, bioheating and bioelectricity.
Biomass (energy)Biomass, in the context of energy production, is matter from recently living (but now dead) organisms which is used for bioenergy production. Examples include wood, wood residues, energy crops, agricultural residues including straw, and organic waste from industry and households. Wood and wood residues is the largest biomass energy source today. Wood can be used as a fuel directly or processed into pellet fuel or other forms of fuels. Other plants can also be used as fuel, for instance maize, switchgrass, miscanthus and bamboo.
Biomass to liquidBiomass to liquid (BtL or BMtL) is a multi-step process of producing synthetic hydrocarbon fuels made from biomass via a thermochemical route. According to a study done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy, the United States can produce at least 1.3 billion tons of cellulosic biomass each year without decreasing the amount of biomass needed for food, animal feed, or exports. The Fischer–Tropsch process is used to produce synfuels from gasified biomass.
Photosynthèsevignette|La photosynthèse végétale consiste à réduire le dioxyde de carbone de l'atmosphère par l'eau absorbée par les racines à l'aide de l'énergie solaire captée par les feuilles avec libération d'oxygène afin de produire des glucides. vignette|Équation de la photosynthèse. vignette|La feuille est l’organe spécialisé dans la photosynthèse chez les spermatophytes. vignette|Vue composite montrant la distribution de l'activité photosynthétique à la surface de la Terre, le rouge foncé indiquant les zones les plus actives du phytoplancton des milieux aquatiques et le bleu-vert celles de la végétation sur la terre ferme.
Sustainable biofuelSustainable biofuel is biofuel produced in a sustainable manner. It is not based on petroleum or other fossil fuels. It includes not using plants that are used for food stuff to produce the fuel thus disrupting the world's food supply. Low-carbon fuel standard In 2008, the Roundtable for Sustainable Biofuels released its proposed standards for sustainable biofuels. This includes 12 principles: "Biofuel production shall follow international treaties and national laws regarding such things as air quality, water resources, agricultural practices, labor conditions, and more.
Eutrophisationthumb|upright=1.6|Les fertilisants utilisés pour les cultures (phosphore et azote) dopent la croissance des plantes et des algues dans le ru jouxtant le champ cultivé. En France et en Europe, la mise en place de zones-tampons est obligatoire le long des cours d'eau et des lacs. L'eutrophisation (du grec ancien : , « bien », et de , « nourriture ») est le processus par lequel des nutriments s'accumulent dans un milieu ou un habitat (terrestre ou aquatique).
Biomasse (énergie)thumb|upright=1.5|Unité de valorisation énergétique de la biomasse (Allemagne). thumb|upright=1.5|En Suède, pays froid, peu peuplé et très boisé, la biomasse est devenue la première source de chaleur urbaine (Source : Agence suédoise de l'énergie). Dans le domaine de l'énergie, la biomasse est la matière organique d'origine végétale (microalgues incluses), animale, bactérienne ou fongique (champignons), utilisable comme source d'énergie (bioénergie).
Production primaire400px|vignette|Selon les données « couleur de l'océan » recueillies par le capteur SeaWiFS, la production primaire dans l'océan mondial est sensiblement égale à celle sur les terres émergées, bien que la biomasse primaire océanique soit environ 500 fois moins importante que la biomasse terrestre, ce qui traduit la très grande efficacité du phytoplancton océanique (avec notamment les diatomées qui représentent 40 % de la production primaire des écosystèmes marins).
Biotechnologievignette|Le métier de brasseur, gravure du s. L’OCDE définit la biotechnologie comme . La biotechnologie, ou « technologie de bioconversion » résulte, comme son nom l'indique, d'un mariage entre la science des êtres vivants – la biologie – et un ensemble de techniques nouvelles issues d'autres disciplines telles que la microbiologie, la biochimie, la biophysique, la génétique, la biologie moléculaire, l'informatique...
Second-generation biofuelsSecond-generation biofuels, also known as advanced biofuels, are fuels that can be manufactured from various types of non-food biomass. Biomass in this context means plant materials and animal waste used especially as a source of fuel. First-generation biofuels are made from sugar-starch feedstocks (e.g., sugarcane and corn) and edible oil feedstocks (e.g., rapeseed and soybean oil), which are generally converted into bioethanol and biodiesel, respectively.
Carbon dioxide scrubberA carbon dioxide scrubber is a piece of equipment that absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2). It is used to treat exhaust gases from industrial plants or from exhaled air in life support systems such as rebreathers or in spacecraft, submersible craft or airtight chambers. Carbon dioxide scrubbers are also used in controlled atmosphere (CA) storage. They have also been researched for carbon capture and storage as a means of combating climate change. Amine gas treating The primary application for CO2 scrubbing is for removal of CO2 from the exhaust of coal- and gas-fired power plants.
Biodegradable plasticBiodegradable plastics are plastics that can be decomposed by the action of living organisms, usually microbes, into water, carbon dioxide, and biomass. Biodegradable plastics are commonly produced with renewable raw materials, micro-organisms, petrochemicals, or combinations of all three. While the words "bioplastic" and "biodegradable plastic" are similar, they are not synonymous. Not all bioplastics (plastics derived partly or entirely from biomass) are biodegradable, and some biodegradable plastics are fully petroleum based.
