Europe Biofuels Market Size, Share, Growth, Trends 2025 to 2034

Europe Biofuels Market Size and Growth 2025 to 2034

The Europe biofuels market size was valued at USD 12.58 billion in 2024 and is expected to be worth around USD 24.62 billion by 2034, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.1% from 2025 to 2034.

Biofuels are renewable sources of energy that have much in common with organic materials such as plants, algae, and animal waste, which undergo some chemical process to create energy-dense fuels like ethanol, biodiesel, and biogas. Unlike fossil fuels, biofuels are typically carbon-neutral: this means that the carbon dioxide emitted when burned may be roughly balanced by the carbon dioxide absorbed when the biomass was growing. Biofuels are usually classified as first, second, and third generations, depending on the raw materials and/or the production processes. Biofuels of the first generation derive from food crops like corn and sugarcane, those of the second generation from non-food biomass like agricultural waste. Advanced third-generation biofuels that aim to switch to algae and other high-yield feedstocks have great potential in transitioning to cleaner energy.

Europe Biofuels Market Growth Factors

• Increasing Demand for Renewable Energy: Climate concerns coupled with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gases ushered in a shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, such as biofuels. Therefore, governments and corporations are investing more in biofuels in an effort to lower their carbon footprints. This is further buttressed by global pacts aimed at achieving carbon neutrality.
• Expansion of the Transportation Sector: Transition to sustainable fuel alternatives develops a huge demand for biofuels. In particular, aviation and maritime biofuels provide a low-emission alternative meeting these stringent emission targets determined by aviation and maritime regulatory authorities.
• Biofuel Blending Mandates: Biofuel blending mandates seek to reduce emissions-and several governments have made it compulsory to blend biofuels with traditional fuels. The Renewable Fuel Standard in the United States, along with the EU Renewable Energy Directive, create a demand for ethanol and biodiesel while providing price support for biofuel producers.
• Investment in Infrastructure: Bio-refineries and distribution systems and associated investment into biofuels supply, especially in developing countries. A better infrastructure provides low-cost and easy access, together with assurances for the use of biofuels in various sectors.
• Carbon Trading Mechanisms: Due to the production of lower emissions from biofuels, carbon prices and trading mechanisms provide economic viability today, as these models offer credits for mitigated emissions-creating a usable credit for the firm, thus motivating it to utilize biofuels for compliance with emissions mandates while shielding it from financial detriment.

Europe Biofuels Market Trends

• Shift to Advanced Biofuels: Advanced biofuels that are developed from non-food and waste sources, such as algae and agricultural residues, offer a better chance for biofuels to co-exist with food; this shift also aids in circular economy actions as waste becomes feedstock, thus reducing an environmental burden.
• Growth in Biofuels for Aviation: Aviation is very rapidly adopting sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) from biofuels, assisting airlines in moving toward stringent emissions regulations and responding to consumer demands for sustainable travel; hence positioning biofuels as preferable fuel sources.
• Growth in Third-Generation Biofuels: These algae-based biofuels, with far greater yield and hence lower land needs, started to gain acceptance. Third-generation biofuels produce better efficiency and viability, addressing concerns of environment and scalability.
• Hybrid Systems and Co-firing Technology: The use of biofuels in mixture with fossil fuels in hybrid energy systems generates effective operation with reduced emissions. Co-firing in power plants with biofuels can be an interim to some extent in reducing a coal or natural gas dependence.

Report Scope

Europe Biofuels Market Dynamics

Drivers

• Environmental Sustainability Targets: Environmental sustainability targets constitute, at both governmental and corporate levels, a priority motive in reducing fossil fuel dependence; thus biofuels significantly reduce this dependence. The biofuels represent renewable alternatives toward achieving decarbonization targets globally in the especially hard-to-electrify sector.
• Decarbonizing heavy industries: Shipping, aviation, and freight are on the way to turn to biofuels for emission reduction targets, where electrification is impractical. These biofuels will allow the sectors to achieve deep decarbonization towards mainstream long-term environmental goals.
• Use of Biofuels in Agriculture and Rural Development: The development of biofuels increases the demand for crops like corn and sugarcane, providing rural economies with the opportunity for such demands. It thus allows small-scale farmers and rural communities to generate income and thus promote local development, combined with strengthening agricultural supply chains.

Restraint

• Competition for Food Production: Food Production Conflict: Food equities such as corn and soy may compete with biofuels. Such food commodity competition may well increase food prices. The "food vs. fuel" debate raises ethical and economic issues, particularly in a food-insecure zone of the globe.
• High Prices: Biofuel production, especially advanced biofuels, is mostly costlier than those derived from fossil fuels. It may, therefore, increase the cost of production, limiting the extent to which biofuels can be used. There is a need to invest in new technologies to bring down the costs of production and improve their price competitiveness in the energy market.
• Too Few Refining and Distribution Facilities: The biofuels market faces considerable inadequacies in refining and distribution infrastructure, especially in a developing economy. Limited infrastructure prevents large-scale adoption of biofuels and inhibits growing biofuel markets in the case of advanced biofuels.

Challenges

• Supply Integration Volatility: Changes in climate, pests, and harvest cycles can impact the availability of biofuels feedstock. This supply volatility of biofuels thereby disrupts their production, providing headaches for companies depending on a particular feedstock source for sustainability.
• Energy Limitations: Biofuels usually have lower energy density relative to fossil fuels. This limits their efficiency when used in high-energy-demand applications. This gap in energy density makes biofuels less attractive for certain applications, such as heavy-duty transport.
• Limitations of Technology for Biofuel Conversion: Many biofuels need further technological improvements if efficient production and conversion processes are to be put in place-a limitation of current biofuel technology that affects the scalability of production and the efficient capability of responding to rising demand.

Europe Biofuels Market Segmental Analysis

Types Analysis

Biodiesel: Headway is mostly made by vegetable oils or animal fats or recycled greases which are usually later used for heating and in diesel engines. Biodiesel burns cleaner than fossil fuel-based diesel, which accounts for part of its growing ingestion in Europe and North America. Biodiesel helps support rural development by providing an outlet for local feedstock. Biodiesel is used as a straight-run fuel for existing types of diesel engines, which is additional validation of its viability as an alternative sustainable fuel.

Ethanol: Ethanol is an alcohol-based biofuel derived from sugar and starch sources such as corn and sugar cane. The twin pillars on which the ethanol markets run today are the United States in conjunction with Brazil and driven by mandates for renewable fuels and flex-fuel vehicles. For it is perhaps the most popular transport fuel in the chemical biofuel arena.

Other: This is a conglomerative category, being akin to biogas, bio-butanol, and green diesel. Biofuels produced from a number of feedstocks including organic waste and algae give versatility and serve to avail less dependence on fossil fuels including in heating and aviation. Very recently, new biofuel technologies within this category are emerging to meet the market demand for sustainable high-energy fuels.

Feedstock Analysis

Coarse Grain: Coarse grains, particularly corn, are the primary feedstocks for ethanol production, remarkably in the U.S. Biofuel production from coarse grains, hence, supports agricultural economies, but it raises the issues of “food versus fuel.” Advanced methods of processing are being designed to continue improving their efficiency and yield in the production of biofuels from grains.

Sugar Crop: Sugar crops notably include sugarcane and sugar beets, the most popular feedstocks for biofuels, for instance, in Brazil. Ethanol from sugarcane is one of the most productive in terms of energy yield whilst emitting lower levels of pollutants. That is one added reason, its cause of use in the transport sector.Biofuel from sugar crop residues is thought to be more sustainable than that from grain-based sources.

Vegetable Oil: Soy, palm, and canola oil are the most common feedstocks for biodiesel. These oils are sustainable sources of biofuels; however, sustainability issues do surface in regard to land-use change and deforestation associated with palm oil cultivation. New ways of sourcing feedstock aim to reduce the environmental footprint of oil-based biofuels.

Other: This means organic waste, algae, and lignocellulosic biomass. These alternative feedstocks respond to sustainability and food security by using unconsumable sources of biofuels. Algae-based biofuels and waste-to-fuel technologies represent promising answers for future biofuel supply, following a circular economy.

Europe Biofuels Market Top Companies

• ADM
• BTG International Ltd
• Borregaard AS
• CropEnergies AG
• Chevron Corporation
• Cargill VERBIO AG
• COFCO
• CLARIANT
• FutureFuel Corporation
• Green Joules
• My Eco Energy
• MünzerBioindustrie GmbH
• Neste
• Praj Industries
• POET, LLC
• TotalEnergies
• The Andersons, Inc.
• UPM
• Wilmar International Ltd

The Europe biofuels industry is significantly dominated by key players like ADM, BTG International Ltd, Borregaard AS, CropEnergies AG, Chevron Corporation, and others. These companies leverage expertise in feedstock processing and innovative biofuel technologies to enhance production efficiency and reduce environmental impact. They are investing heavily in research and collaborations to expand biofuel applications across transportation, heating, and industrial sectors, addressing rising energy demands and supporting Europe’s transition to sustainable, low-emission fuel sources.

CEO statements

Juan Luciano, CEO of ADM

• “ADM is advancing biofuels innovation as part of our commitment to renewable energy solutions. Our recent biodiesel and ethanol advancements are directly aligned with ADM's vision to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable production."

Dr. Fritz Georg von Graevenitz, CEO of CropEnergies AG

• “Our focus on building Europe’s first plant for green ethyl acetate is a critical step in promoting renewable chemicals. CropEnergies is positioned as a leader in bio-based, sustainable chemicals for a cleaner future.”

Mike Wirth, CEO of Chevron Corporation

• “Chevron’s biofuels strategy emphasizes renewable diesel production to meet Europe’s demand for clean energy. Our partnerships in biofuel technology reflect Chevron’s commitment to energy efficiency and a lower carbon footprint in the transition to sustainable fuels.”

Recent Developments

• In February 2022, BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH announced a contract with Renewable Energy Group to enhance two biodiesel production facilities in Germany. This collaboration involves installing advanced feedstock pre-treatment technology to process diverse fats and oils, supporting increased biodiesel production efficiency and sustainability. The project is scheduled for completion by late 2023, marking a significant investment in biofuel infrastructure.
• In May 2021, the German government introduced new biofuel legislation, mandating that oil companies significantly increase the use of biodiesel, bioethanol, and biomethane in the transportation sector. This policy aims to curb carbon emissions and accelerate Germany's transition to greener energy solutions.

These developments highlight significant progress in the European biofuels market, as companies like ADM, BTG International Ltd, Borregaard AS, CropEnergies AG, and Chevron Corporation enhance their capabilities and offerings. Their investments in innovative technologies and sustainable practices aim to increase production efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. For instance, ADM's advancements in biodiesel production and BTG's focus on processing fats and oils exemplify the industry's commitment to meeting renewable energy targets.

Market Segmentation

By Type

• Biodiesel
• Ethanol
• Other 

By Feedstock

• Coarse Grain
• Sugar Crop
• Vegetable Oil
• Other 

By Application

• Transportation
• Aviation
• Others

By Geography

• Germany
• United Kingdom
• France
• Rest of Europe