ABSTRACT
Energy is necessary for growth, and sustainable energy provides the opportunity to transform lives, economies, and the planet earth. In India, high population growth demands high energy security, and biofuels are likely to be one of the most advanced clean energy sources. The major raw materials for biofuels include microalgae, jatropha and vegetable oils, starchy and cellulosic materials, and municipal wastes. Their production techniques vary according to the raw material, biomass, efficiency level, land use pattern, and so on. Biofuel has great potential to mitigate climate change, provide job opportunities, and improve income, thereby alleviating poverty. However, various socioeconomic and environmental challenges impede its large-scale adoption. The foremost socioeconomic challenge is food price hike and food scarcity due to conflict between food and energy. Production often causes an imbalance in land and water uses and the displacement of farmers and indigenous communities, and thereby the collapse of the rural economy. Environmental challenges include overexploitation of soil and water, deforestation, biodiversity loss, and climate change. Therefore, intensive research is required to find the best production technique, useful source, and economically viable bioconversion system to explore the new era of fuels.
