Recent advancements in biofuels and bioenergy utilization

Abstract

According to the United States Census Bureau, the world population as of January 2018 is 7.4 billion with China, India, and the United States being the most populous countries. The world population is projected to amplify over 8 billion by 2030. In addition to food, water, and oxygen as the basic needs of survival, the human civilization also requires supplementary energy sources such as electricity and fuel for sustenance and livelihood. Fossil fuels have fast-tracked the global industrialization and are the preferred source of energy for transportation, household, and industrial sectors. Fossil fuels in the form of crude oil, petroleum, diesel, coal and natural gas have dominated the worldwide energy sector since the industrial revolution. However, the deleterious impacts of fossil fuels on the ecosystem and the environment cannot be repudiated. The direct effects of the exploiting use of fossil fuels can be evidenced by the increasing atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases (especially CO2), which cause air pollution and smog in urban areas. Conversely, the indirect effects of fossil fuels include, but are not restricted to, global warming, climate change, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, and other extreme weather conditions. There is a direct correlation between the emissions of greenhouse gases and the consumption of fossil fuels. Therefore, there is a global momentum in shifting the paradigm from fossil-based energy to alternative and more renewable forms of energy.