Made up of organic matter from living organisms, biomass is the world's leading renewable energy source. It not only has heat and power applications, but is also used for biofuels and bioproducts. Because it is renewable, it helps to curb greenhouse gas emissions.
Total is a European leader in biofuels, and has supported their development since 1992.
We are active in the two main first-generation biofuels:
- Ethanol is used directly or converted into ethyl tertiary butyl ether (ETBE) for gasoline-fueled vehicles,
- while vegetable oils are processed into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) for diesel-powered vehicles.
Total is devoting considerable R&D resources to developing new biofuel technologies, based on partnerships with recognized operators in the field. We aim to identify and develop second-generation biofuels to supplement the existing offering. |