University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

546
generating the various form of bioenergy available within the stretch of their natural
resource endowment. In many independent countries and the European Union targets
have been set for the various levels adoption of bioenergy (EC 1997, 2001 & EPC
2001, 2005). Trømborg et al (2008) envisaged that the setting of these targets will
substantially increase the use of biomass for energy purpose in Europe. This increase
can as well be envisaged for other major energy consuming economies of the world.
The increase in the use and subsequent demand for biofuels is creating an
international biofuel trade (EPC 2001), with biofuel markets already fully developing
in some countries that have been able to harness their natural resource for producing
biofuels.
The human energy need has increased with the technological advancements. Boyle
(2004) estimated more than 10-fold increase in the amount of energy consumed
globally in the twentieth century. The 451 exajoules estimate in 2002 is
approximately 10,800 million tonnes of oil equivalent, a consumption that increased
steadily until 2008. Though global energy production is on the increase, the huge
demand by emerging economies such as China and other far eastern countries means
an increase in the demand with time, yet, fossil fuel reserves are declining (St. Clair,
et al 2008). The continuous increase in the consumption and price of oil with it
attendant environmental impact has renewed the interest in alternative energy,
including biofuels.
Basic biofuel are acknowledged as the primary source of heating and cooking for
thousands of years for humans. Cunningham et al (2005) posited wood supplied upto
90 percent of fuel used in the United States until 1850. In Nigeria and most other
developing countries, majority of the population still depends on basic fuels such as
firewood, cow dug and charcoal. The discovery of coal and later petroleum led to the
decline in the reliance on these basic fuels as human technological advancement
made a leap in 18 th and 19 th centuries.
Biofuel are liquid or gaseous form of fuels processed from biomass sources, which
can replace petrol, diesel and other transport fuels used for running various
automotive and mechanical machines. Biofuel as form of bioenergy can be derived
from a wide array of sources including agricultural crops, forest biomass, bio-wastes
from a wide variety of sources, perennial crops such as jatropha, among others
(Keam and McCormick 2008). The various forms of fuels obtainable from bioenergy
sources include bioethanol, biodiesel, and biogas.
Background
Energy constitutes a major development challenge for developing countries,
including Nigeria with rich petroleum and natural gas resources. The technological
advancement and economic progress in since the twentieth century have expanded
the reliance on energy. According to EC/UNDP (1999) the provision of energy
services has for a very long period played a central role in economic development.
Nigeria is an oil rich nation and its national economy depends mainly on proceeds
from the main extractive resources of petroleum (oil and gas). This sector has
consistently contributed increasingly to the gross revenue of the country since the