More attention is being paid to the liquid properties. There is a greater awareness of the potential of liquid bio-fuels. There is an increasing interest in chemical products. We have seen a growth by a factor of 8 in US over 18 years up to 1.4 billion gallons for fuel blending. A further boost is expected once the production from lignocellulose reaches the commercial scale.
Bio ethanol appears to reduce car emissions.
In Scandinavia, projected costs for methanol production is less than ethanol production, but both exceed petroleum costs. The commercial production is impeded by limited production quotas. CEN, the European Standardisation Organisation, on behalf of the European Commission, is close to publishing a European high quality biodiesel standard. Public buses in Valencia run on biodiesel. Biolubricants from vegetable oils have shown excellent performance in tests.