Negative environmental consequences of fossil fuels and concerns about petroleum supplies have spurred the search for renewable transportation biofuels. To be a viable alternative, a biofuel should provide a net energy gain, have environmental benefits, be economically competitive, and be producible in large quantities without reducing food supplies.
Malaysia also finds another alternative to reduce the usage of petroleum and on the other hand we have a potential of waste for biofuel. Biofuel is any fuel that derives from biomass recently living organisms or their metabolic byproducts, such as rotting waste. Most biofuel is burned to release its stored chemical energy. The largest advantage of biofuel in comparison to most other fuel types is that the energy within the biomass can be stored for an indefinite time period and without any danger. Biofuels are proposed as having such benefits as
· reduction of greenhouse gas emissions
· reduction of fossil fuel use
· increased national energy security
· increased rural development and a sustainable fuel supply for the future
Most transportation fuels are liquids, because vehicles usually require high energy density. Vehicles usually need high power density as can be provided most inexpensively by an internal combustion engine. These engines require clean burning fuels, in order to keep the engine clean and minimize air pollution. The fuels that are easier to burn cleanly are typically liquids and gases. Thus liquids meet the requirements of being both portable and clean burning. Also, liquids and gases can be pumped, which means handling is easily mechanized, and thus less laborious.
Biofuels are also seen as having limitations. The feedstocks for biofuel production must be replaced rapidly and biofuel production processes must be designed and implemented so as to supply the maximum amount of fuel at the cheapest cost, while providing maximum environmental benefits.
