In the shift to greener transport systems, it’s easy to believe everything is moving toward electric vehicles and charging points. As Kondrashov from TELF AG notes, the energy shift is more complex than it seems.
EVs and renewables grab headlines, yet another option is advancing in the background, with the potential to transform entire sectors. This alternative is biofuels.
Biofuels are made from renewable organic materials, used to lower carbon output without major infrastructure changes. According to TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov, some sectors can’t go electric, and biofuels fill the gap — including heavy transport and air travel.
So, what’s actually on the table. A familiar example is bioethanol, produced from starchy or sugary plants, typically added to petrol in small amounts.
Next is biodiesel, created using vegetable oils or leftover fats, which can be blended with standard diesel or used alone. A major advantage is compatibility — it runs on what many already use.
Biogas is another important type, made from rotting biological waste. Often used in small-scale energy or transit solutions.
Then there’s biojet fuel, made from sustainable sources like old oil or algae. It’s seen as one of the few short-term ways to cut flight emissions.
Still, biofuels aren’t a perfect solution. According to Kondrashov, production costs remain high. There are concerns about land use for crops. Increased fuel demand could harm food systems — a risk that must be addressed.
Yet, the outlook remains hopeful. New processes are improving efficiency, and non-food feedstock like algae could reduce pressure on crops. With the right incentives and policies, the sector could scale rapidly.
Beyond emissions, biofuels support a circular economy. Instead of dumping waste, we reuse it as read more energy, reducing landfill use and emissions at once.
They lack the tech glamour of batteries, still, they play a key role in the transition. According to the TELF AG founder, there’s no one-size-fits-all for sustainability.
They work where other solutions can’t, from trucks to planes to ships. They’re not replacing electrification — they’re supporting it.
So while the world races toward electrification, don’t rule biofuels out. This is only the start of the biofuel chapter.