skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Biomass fuels in the developing countries: An overview

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5319599· OSTI ID:5319599
;  [1]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley Lab., CA (USA)

This report presents an overview of what is known about current patterns of biofuels supply and use in the developing countries. We illustrate the diversity of biofuels use, and discuss how use changes with urbanization and commercialization of biofuels. We present information on sources of biofuels, describe the basic technologies employed for using biofuels, and discuss the key factors involved in assessing change in biofuels use over time. We present biofuels consumption data from a number of surveys, and discuss the main factors that shape the level of use of different biofuels. We discuss the responses of rural people to the increasing fuelwood scarcity that is occurring in many parts of the developing world. We describe the transition from biofuels to modern fuels that occurs in cities, and discuss the factors that inhibit this transition. We present estimates of national biofuels consumption for 17 of the largest biofuels-using countries and for larger regions. We discuss the relationship between human use of biofuels and greenhouse gas emissions. Lastly, we present a discussion of policies designed to affect biofuels supply and demand, describing the experience with and prospects for increasing biofuels supply, improving end-use efficiency, and encouraging the transition away from biofuels. 61 refs., 18 tabs.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE/EH
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
5319599
Report Number(s):
LBL-27222; ON: DE90002616
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English