Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'even worse than fossil fuels'
The UK's "irrational" usage of biofuels will cost drivers around ₤ 460 million over the next 12 months, a think tank states.
A report by Chatham House, external says the growing reliance on sustainable liquid fuels will also increase food costs.
The author says that biodiesel made from vegetable oil was even worse for the climate than fossil fuels.
Under EU law, external, biofuels are set to make up 5% of the UK's transport fuel from today.
Since 2008, the UK has actually needed fuel providers to include a growing percentage of sustainable materials into the fuel and diesel they supply. These biofuels are primarily ethanol distilled from corn and biodiesel made from rapeseed, utilized cooking oil and tallow.
Deep fried fuel
But research study performed for Chatham House says that reaching the 5% level means that drivers will need to pay an additional ₤ 460m a year since of the greater expense of fuel at the pump and from filling up regularly as biofuels have a lower energy content.
The report say that if the UK is to meet its obligations to EU energy targets the cost to motorists is likely to increase to ₤ 1.3 bn per year by 2020.
"It is hard to find any great news," Rob Bailey, senior research study fellow at Chatham House, informed BBC News.
"Biofuels increase expenses and they are a very pricey way to reduce carbon emissions," he said.
The EU biofuel mandates are also having hugely distorting impacts in the market. Because used cooking oil is considered as among the most sustainable types of biodiesel, the rate for it has increased quickly. Rob Bailey states that towards the end of 2012 it was more pricey than refined palm oil.
"It develops a monetary incentive to purchase refined palm oil, prepare a chip in it to turn it into used cooking oil and then offer it at earnings,"
"It is insane however the incentives are there."
There are likewise frets that taking EU land out of production to grow rapeseed oil in specific is creating more climate issues than it solves. The more fuel of this type that is put into vehicles the bigger the deficit developed in the edible oils market. This had actually lead to increased imports of palm oil from Indonesia, often produced on deforested land.
"Once you take into account these indirect impacts, biofuels made from veggie oils in fact result worldwide in more emissions than you would obtain from using diesel in the first place," said Rob Bailey.
"Plus you are asking motorists to pay more for the fuel - it makes no sense, it is a totally illogical method."
Biofuel advantages
The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the market, external throughout the EU, stated it was mindful of the problems brought on by the required. But it believes that biofuels have lots of positives.
"Blaming biofuels for all the problems in the world is a bit too exaggerated," stated Isabelle Maurizi, job supervisor at the EBB.
"It has actually brought lots of advantages. It has actually improved the security of our diesel
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Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'Worse than Nonrenewable Fuel Source'
Jeana Steven edited this page 3 months ago