Better biofuel composition awareness 'could raise value'

Better understanding of biofuel composition - including primary biomass sources such as wood - could help to reveal the true value of such materials as sources of energy.

According to Dipl-Ing Carsten Beier, a scientist from the Oberhausen-based Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety and Energy Technology, many fuels could be worth more than is perceived.

However, he argues that nobody would burn, for example, a $50 note - due to its value as currency.

"It's obvious that it simply is too valuable for that," the researcher argues.

By studying biofuel composition in more detail, he believes it may be possible to learn more about the energy contained within and how it might be released and converted more efficiently - through initiatives like using waste heat from the power production process to heat dwellings.

Dipl-Ing is the courtesy title used in Germany to honour those who have qualified with diplomas in engineering, similar to the use of Dr in the UK.