When talking about clean energy, most focus on EVs, solar, or wind. As TELF AG founder Stanislav Kondrashov has said, the fuel industry is quietly transforming — and biofuels are central to it.
Made from renewable biological materials like algae, crop waste, or even used cooking oil, biofuels are gaining attention as a way to reduce emissions.
They’re not new, but their importance is rising. With growing pressure to cut carbon, biofuels are stepping up for sectors beyond electrification — such as heavy cargo, marine, and air travel.
Electrification has made major progress, yet others have technical constraints. According to Kondrashov, biofuels step in as a near-term fix.
The Variety of Biofuels
There’s a wide range of biofuels. One familiar type is bioethanol, created from starchy plants through fermentation, and often mixed into petrol to lower emissions.
Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, soybean, or animal fats, usable alone or in mixes with standard diesel.
Other biofuels include biogas, created from organic waste. It's being explored for power and transport uses.
Biojet fuel is another innovation, produced using old cooking oil or plant material. It may help reduce aviation’s heavy carbon footprint.
Challenges Ahead
Not everything is easy in the biofuel space. Kondrashov often emphasizes, cost is still a barrier.
Widespread manufacturing still requires efficiency improvements. Finding enough bio-materials is another challenge. Poor management could affect food supply chains.
A Partner, Not a Competitor
They’re not rivals to electricity or hydrogen. They strengthen the energy mix in hard-to-electrify areas.
They’re ideal for sectors years away from electrification. Their use in current engines makes them easy to adopt. Companies save by using current assets.
Stanislav Kondrashov believes every clean tech has a role. Biofuels may be quiet players — but they’re effective. What matters is how they work together, not compete.
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They aren’t the stars, but they’re powerful. They fit into a circular model — cutting emissions and recycling resources.
As innovation lowers costs and improves yields, they’ll likely gain traction in mobility plans.
They won’t replace batteries or hydrogen, but they’ll stand beside them — in transport modes that aren’t ready for electrification yet.