Biofuels are liquid fuels made from renewable resources, including crops like corn or sugarcane, wasted cooking and vegetable oils, non-food plants, animal fats and waste products.
There are two common types of biofuels used in Missouri: ethanol and biodiesel. These fuels are used mainly in the transportation sector, to be burned in vehicle engines.
Ethanol
Ethanol is a type of renewable fuel that is produced by fermenting sugars from plant materials like corn or sugarcane. Although ethanol is a type of alcohol, it is also used as a fuel additive in gasoline. One common ethanol blend available in gas stations across the nation is E10, which is composed of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Burning ethanol results in lower air emissions and supports an expanded market for agricultural crops.
Ethanol in Missouri
Missouri ranks 13th in the nation for ethanol production. According to the Renewable Fuels Association’s 2021 Ethanol Industry Outlook, Missouri's ethanol plants can produce 287 million gallons of ethanol each year. That accounts for roughly 1.6% of the total annual U.S. production of 17.4 billion gallons.
Biodiesel
Biodiesel is a type of renewable fuel that uses a process called transesterification to turn animal fats, vegetable oils or recycled grease into fuels that can be used in diesel engines. This fuel can be used on its own (B100) or blended with petroleum diesel to produce B5 or B20 fuel. Burning biodiesel results in lower air emissions, improves engine performance and supports the market for agricultural crops.
- What is Biodiesel? - PUB2881
- Clean Fuels Alliance America (formerly National Biodiesel Board)
Biodiesel in Missouri
Missouri is one of the nation’s leading states in biodiesel production. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Missouri can produce about 253 million gallons of biodiesel each year, accounting for 11.5% of the nation’s total annual U.S. production capacity. This makes Missouri the third-largest biodiesel producer in the nation, after Texas and Iowa. Missouri currently has eight biodiesel plants, which use both soybean oil and animal fats as feedstock.