Biofuels Definition
Biofuels are derived from biomass. They differ from fossil fuels in that they are derived from renewable sources, including crops, animal waste and some forms of ‘rubbish’.
Common forms of Biofuel
- Bioethanol
Bioethanol is the biofuel substitute for petrol (gasoline). It derives from cereal based crops – mainly wheat in the UK, and maize (corn), soyabeans and sugarcane in the US and South America.
- Biodiesel
Biodiesel is the biofuel substitute for diesel. It derives from oilseed based crops – mainly oilseed rape (OSR) in the UK, and palmoil in South East Asia.
The two forms above are ‘first generation biofuels’, ie they are derived from raw materials that are normally used in food production.
- Biogas
Biogas is the biofuel substitute for natural gas. It derives from organic waste materials including animal waste and waste generated from municipal, commercial and industrial sources through the process of anaerobic digestion.
Biogas is a ‘second generation fuel’, ie it is derived from non-food sources.
Benefits of use
The main practical benefit of using biofuel alternatives is that they are easily integrated with fossil fuels and can be used within existing energy systems such as car and lorry engines.
There are two main environmental benefits of using biofuels in place of fossil fuels. First, because they are renewable, biofuels offer the potential for long-term, relatively cheap, secure energy supplies. Second, many biofuels contribute significantly less to greenhouse gas emissions in their production and use than oil or natural gas.
UK Government position
The European Commission has set a minimum target of 10% of vehicle fuel coming from alternative sources by 2020. There is also an interim target of 5.75% by 2010.
In the UK, the Government announced in November 2005 that it would introduce a Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) as a way of supporting the use of bio-fuels and other renewable fuels in the transport sector and to meet the European requirement. It also announced that the level of the RTFO would reach 5% by 2010.
In the 2006 Budget, the Chancellor of the Exchequer confirmed that the RTFO would start in April 2008, and that the levels of the obligation in the years 2008/9 and 2009/10 would be 2.5% and 3.75% respectively.
By the time the level of the RTFO reaches 5%, it will have created a demand for 2.5 billion litres of bio-fuel a year. This could save as much as a million tonnes of carbon a year, which would be the equivalent, in carbon terms, of taking a million cars off the road.
Issues
There are a number of environmental and social issues around the production of biofuels, two of which are summarised below.
‘Good’ versus ‘Bad’ biofuels
It is becoming clear that the source of a biofuel is a key determinant of its net environmental benefit.
The best performing biofuels can deliver ten times more energy (output) than energy required to produce them and when used, a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions compared to their fossil fuel equivalent. Ethanol produced from sugar cane in Brazil is often given as an example of a ‘good’ biofuel.
In contrast, the worst performing biofuels deliver significantly less energy, and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The increased emissions tend to be indirect of use, for example, through forest fires and clearing to make way for plantations. Biodiesel produced from palm oil in Indonesia is often cited as and example of ‘bad’ biofuel.
Currently within the UK there is no assessment of biofuel performance, and it is feared that both good and bad biofuels are currently being imported and sold.
The UK Government has committed to introducing the ‘RTFO Obligation’ in April 2008, which will require reporting of biofuel sources, however Friends of the Earth and a number of NGOs are campaigning for mandatory sustainability and greenhouse gas balance standards, including at least a 50% saving on greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels, taking a whole life-cycle approach.
Food versus fuel
The feedstocks of first generation biofuels are also used in food production. Indeed, many of the cereals and oilseeds are fundamental components of a wide variety of foodstuffs. It is often cited that the grain required to produce a petrol tank full of ethanol for a large car would be sufficient to feed one person per year.
There is the inevitable tension therefore that whilst using them for biofuels may have environmental benefits, there are social and economic consequences. In the short term the main consequence is likely to be higher food prices; but in the longer term there is the possibility that using them as fuels may contribute to food shortages.
| Related Internet links |
European Commission
Outlines the EU’s 2006 strategy for biofuels. |
Food and Drink Federation
FDF’s work on biofuels on behalf of UK food and drink manufacturers. |
Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil
An initiative to advance the production, procurement and use of sustainable oil palm products. |
Friends of the Earth
Press release highlighting that green fuels could be bad for the environment. |
United Nations
Publication structuring the approach to current discussions on bioenergy, including biofuels. |
Biofuel Watch
A campaign group dedicated to highlighting the environmental impacts of the global biofuel market. |
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