Biofuel production in the U.S. 2009-2023

The United States produced 804 thousand barrels of oil equivalent biofuels per day in 2023. This was a daily average increase of over 75,000 barrels compared to the previous year. The U.S. is the leading biofuel producing country in the world. Biofuels are alternative motor fuels derived from crops, cooking fats, and other biomass waste. They are considered a renewable energy source due to the relatively short time span needed to regrow plant material. However, their combustion does release carbon dioxide and they are only deemed carbon neutral if the associated crops are grown responsibly.

Types of biofuels

Biodiesel, ethanol, and biogas are the most universal forms of biofuels. Biodiesel and bioethanol are often used as supplements in regular petroleum-based motor fuels. Gasoline engines in passenger cars may run with a gasoline blend containing up to 10 percent of ethanol, also called E10. 100 percent fuel ethanol requires specifically fitted engines and is thus less commonly used. Poet Biorefining is the largest U.S. ethanol producer by capacity. Biodiesel is often used in combination with regular diesel fuel at a rate of five to 20 percent. The production volume of biodiesel in the U.S. stood at 1.6 billion gallons in 2021.

Biofuel consumption in the U.S.

The U.S. consumes roughly two quadrillion British thermal units worth of biofuels every year. Biofuel consumption in the U.S. has been declining since 2017, when figures reached a peak of 2.3 quadrillion British thermal units.