After several years of tests related to bio-fuels, “crop-fuels" can no longer offer a solution to reduce our fossil fuel consumption and cut down on Green House Gas emissions. Its intensive production raises questions on the social, environmental and energy issues that cannot be resolved for the moment.

Today, the European Union encourages the diversity of bio-fuel use and second-generation bio-fuel development. This second-generation fuel comes from various types of bio-mass and allows the recycling of all organic residue found in organic products. It also eases the pressure on the ever-increasing encroachment of pollution on agricultural land. Nevertheless, Biomass to Liquid (BTL), which is the pathway of biomass transformation into liquid fuels, is far from being reached, since it still requires enormous investment in research and development and which could take up to ten years before its arrival on the fuels market.

In the meantime, bio-methane for vehicle use still has its place as a secure bio-fuel and can still lay claim to, its “bio" denomination on the market, as it can certainly supply 20% of fuel consumption for all European surface transport.

Moreover, the procedure of bio-methanisation is not particularly complex, therefore, it could facilitate its rapid development in production.

Finally, it still offers a great potential, in terms of technological progress, as it is expected to be produced more by a better means in collection and treatment of the organic wastes as well as plant operation optimization. And that means less bio-methane vehicle consumption for more efficient vehicles.

To achieve the European target (5.75% of bio-fuel by 2010 and 10% by 2020), diversity is essential. Therefore, bio-methane is a bio-fuel with a great future!