Biofuels are not a Cost Effective Way to Reduce Emissions
A new study from think-tank Chatham House has suggested that biofuels are not a cost effective method of reducing fuel emissions, can result in significant long-term problems and is difficult to sustain.
The report stated that biofuels at the moment are a dearer alternative to fossil fuels and have a lower density in energy, therefore more fuel is required. The study also suggests that there are better alternatives to biofuels to reduce emissions and achieve fuel efficiency by using start-stop engines, downsizing an engine coupled to turbo boost or supercharging.
The UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation warned that it requires 5% of all transport fuel to be biofuel, costing motorists approximately £460m in 2013 and is forecasted to rise around £1.3 bn every year by 2020 if the UK is to meet the present EU obligations of using biofuel. A DFT spokesman said that “government policy remained that genuinely sustainable biofuels have a role to play in efforts to tackle climate change” and added that they would continue to take a cautious approach when setting targets for the supply of biofuel.
For more information visit ChathamHouse.org.
The report stated that biofuels at the moment are a dearer alternative to fossil fuels and have a lower density in energy, therefore more fuel is required. The study also suggests that there are better alternatives to biofuels to reduce emissions and achieve fuel efficiency by using start-stop engines, downsizing an engine coupled to turbo boost or supercharging.
The UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation warned that it requires 5% of all transport fuel to be biofuel, costing motorists approximately £460m in 2013 and is forecasted to rise around £1.3 bn every year by 2020 if the UK is to meet the present EU obligations of using biofuel. A DFT spokesman said that “government policy remained that genuinely sustainable biofuels have a role to play in efforts to tackle climate change” and added that they would continue to take a cautious approach when setting targets for the supply of biofuel.
For more information visit ChathamHouse.org.
