When fuel is produced one of the factors that must be considered is cost. With tough economic times affecting much of the world, the total cost of fuel is important. One way of reducing the overall cost of fuel is using biofuels, which are renewable energy sources and are friendlier to the Earth than fossil fuels. Gasoline and diesel fuel prices have been sky high over the last few years and many people have cut back significantly in how much they drive, which means fewer vacations and trips. Biofuels can be used to lessen and eventually eliminate the dependence on fossil fuels that pollute the air and contribute to global warming.

There are three basic types of biofuels that can be used to lower fuel production costs; these are ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas. Biofuels are produced using plant material that is either alive or decaying. These fuels do not contribute to global warming like fossil fuels do because they have no environmentally harmful emissions. Another factor is that unlike other alternative renewable fuel and energy sources, biofuels can be implemented quickly and are relatively inexpensive. The technology is readily available for use in almost every country around the world. Biofuels can be added to fossil fuels or replace them entirely.

Ethanol is one type of biofuel that can help bring down the cost to produce fuel. This fuel starts with grains and other plants like corn, soybeans, wheat, flaxseed, and others. These grains contain starches and sugars that ferment during the production process of the fuel. After this process, the result is a liquid: alcohol. This process is similar to any that are used to create drinkable liquors. Ethanol is usually blended with gasoline.

Biodiesel is another biofuel that can reduce fuel costs. This fuel is biodegradable and non-toxic. This fuel starts as oily materials like recycled grease, vegetable oils including corn oil, soy oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, and animal fat or tallow. During the production process these fats and oils are combined with a catalyst and an alcohol. This process is called transesterification.

Biogas is the third type of fuel that can help lower the total costs of fuel production. This gas is usually methane that is emitted from decomposing plant and other cellulose materials. Biogas is beneficial as a fuel for vehicles that have a natural gas motor, but right now these engines make up only a small percent of motors made, so the remainder of biogas is used to generate heat and electricity.

Biofuels offer many benefits, one of which is to lower the production costs of fuel in every aspect. These fuels are environmentally friendly unlike fossil fuels. The plants grown to produce these fuels add oxygen to the air and combat global warming. There is less cost financially to both produce and buy these fuels and economies around the world would be strengthened by the jobs that would be created to grow and produce them. With global warming being such a large concern, it is becoming apparent even to naysayers that the dependence on oil and other fossil fuels cannot go on indefinitely since the fossil fuel reserves are slowly dwindling away. Using biomass technology to produce biofuels is one solution, biofuels that are a viable, quick and an affordable way to stop the use of fossil fuels, save money, and slow global warming.