ABSTRACT
Since the dawn of the mankind, biofuels have been used and have marked their presence from the time re was discovered. Today, with rising crude oil prices and various environmental challenges and political instability, there is an urgent need to explore new alternatives to fossil fuels. Over the past 15 years, biofuels have been extensively researched, produced, and used in solid, liquid, and gaseous forms. During its long history, biofuel production had many peaks and valleys, and currently has the potential to replace the supply of fossil fuels for an energy-hungry civilization. Further, the acceptance of a technology depends on public opinion. Over the years, despite large-scale investments in biofuel expansion and research, little is known regarding public opinions of biofuels. How the public perceives this
Contents
alternative fuel technology and on what basis their opinions are formed is necessary to determine its future stability. e current chapter focuses on historical perspectives of biofuels and public opinion regarding biofuels considering various risk-benet perceptions. Public opinions in dierent regions and regarding secondgeneration biofuels has also been discussed.
