University of Vaasa - Vaasan yliopisto

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different amounts of time. In all countries the volatility of biogases needs to be
emphasized in instructions: methane is quite dangerous and people need to be
educated to its usage. Biodiesel is still better known than biogases and easier to adapt
to people’s needs.
As far as economic sustainability is concerned, biogases are still expensive to use at
their start-up phase. It is very expensive to build the entire needed infrastructure, but
once it has been started, it does not pollute so much and it is cheaper to use than the
fossil fuel plants. Biogas plants use already existing technology. They do not need
any sites of natural values but existing landfills can be converted into energy centres.
In order that biogas becomes fully exploited in all possible energy need, big
investments from the bioenergy companies, car industry and governments are needed.
Biogases are a cradle-to-grave type of biofuels because they are not as yet designed
to nourish the nature after use, nor can they be put into a recycle loop after being
recovered and remanufactured. Biogases do have all the potential to be fitted into the
cradle-to-cradle approach, but socially, culturally and economically they cannot as
yet reach the approach.
Bioliquids
Bioliquids refer to biodiesel, which is based on plant oil refined into diesel. Hence
such diesel is made out of biomass oils. Biodiesel can be used in diesel engines in
private and public transport (Finbio 2005). An example of biomass oil used for
biodiesel is palm oil, which is exploited for instance by Neste Oil. Palm oil is
produced in South East Asia with a yearly production of about 40 million tons, soya
oil in the USA and South America (37 million tons/year), rapeseed oil in Europe,
Canada and China (18 million tons/year) and sunflower oil in Southern Europe and
the USA (11 million tons/year) (Honkamaa 2008). Table 2 collects the opinions of
the interviewees on the environmental, social, cultural and economic impacts of
bioliquids.