Biofuels In Emerging Markets Of Africa And Asia
IEA Bioenergy
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Abstract: This policy brief provides a comparative life-cycle analysis of biofuel deployment across emerging markets in Africa and Asia, including China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Ethiopia, Thailand, and South Africa. It highlights greenhouse gas savings of up to 87% compared to fossil fuels from sugarcane ethanol and palm oil biodiesel, depending on national context. Country-specific insights include synthetic fuels in South Africa, aflatoxin challenges in Indonesia, and ethanol mandates in India. The report advocates anaerobic digesters for effluent reuse, blending incentives, flex-fuel technologies, and trade strategies. It draws connections between transport electrification gaps in low-income areas and biofuel viability, arguing for differentiated regional approaches. The document also includes metrics for biofuel economics under variable policy support and fossil price shifts. Decision-makers are encouraged to consider land-use, feedstock competition, and circular energy logic when designing roadmaps for inclusive biofuel transitions.