Biofuel production to double

The US is predicted to be producing the majority of global biofuel within the next ten years.

According to a new study by Pike Research, called Biofuel Markets and Technologies, the US will become the world's leading biofuel producer, making 71 per cent of the alternative energy by 2021.

The report also claims that the global biofuel market is set to double by 2021 to $183.3 billion (£114.4 billion), from the $82.7 billion seen in 2010.

Ethanol production is expected to lead the way with a $78 billion share of predicted worldwide biofuel production, while biodiesel production should reach $25.5 billion.

However, commentators have suggested that this level of change in a ten-year window is not realistic.

The report comes as new research was released to show that tension wood could make biocrops dramatically more efficient.

Tension wood contains 90 per cent cellulose, compared to 40 to 55 per cent in normal wood, increasing the ratio of sugars released in biofuel production.