Biofuels: Production Grows, As Does Skepticism

kqedquest/flickr

Worldwatch announces the latest Vital Signs Update on biofuels. This snapshot of key biofuels data and trends reveals that:

Biofuels accounted for 1.5% of the global supply of liquid fuels in 2007.
Global production of fuel ethanol increased 18% in 2007, the sixth consecutive year of double-digit growth.
The U.S. and Brazil account for 95% of all ethanol production, while Germany produces the most biodiesel.
Worldwide investment in biofuel production capacity continued to grow in 2007.

But 2007 represented a turning point for biofuels, as global confidence in this fuel source was shaken. Several scientific studies raised questions about the environmental benefits of clearing land for biofuels. And with grain and soybean prices skyrocketing, decision-makers began to voice serious concerns about using food crops for fuel production.

Read on for essential statistics on biofuel production, up-to-date information on advanced biofuels technology, and a forward-looking analysis of biofuels regulation.