Biofuels

Biofuels are fuels made from plant materials or waste, such as corn, sugar cane or used cooking oil. They can be used in vehicles instead of petrol.

Some biofuels use waste that would otherwise be thrown away.

They can be mixed with petrol or diesel to power cars, buses and lorries. Because the plants absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, biofuels can produce less greenhouse gas than fossil fuels.

However, growing crops just for fuel can take land away from growing food, and some biofuels still produce pollution. Scientists are working on better biofuels that use waste materials and do not compete with food crops.