Biofuels in Transport and Energy Systems

Biofuels are among the most controversial technologies of the energy transition. Few topics have been celebrated as often as a source of hope-and just as often dismissed as a mistake. But while the public debate has long remained stuck in old contradictions, the scientific reality has changed fundamentally in recent years. This book shows why biofuels need to be rethought today. It provides a well-founded and understandable introduction to the latest findings in biotechnology, chemistry, engineering, environmental economics, and energy system analysis, and classifies them according to their practical consequences. The focus is not on whether biofuels are "good" or "bad," but rather on the conditions under which they can actually contribute to reducing emissions-in transportation, in existing vehicle fleets, in heavy-duty vehicles, and beyond. Special attention is given to modern biofuel generations, realistic life cycle analyses, system boundaries, and political framework conditions. The book shows why earlier concepts failed, what technological breakthroughs have been achieved since then, and why biofuels are neither a panacea nor a thing of the past. Instead of simplistic narratives, it offers a differentiated, evidence-based classification in the post-fossil energy system. Bremen University Press has published over 5,500 specialist books in various languages since 2005. February 2026