Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'worse than fossil fuels'
The UK's "unreasonable" use of biofuels will cost vehicle drivers around ₤ 460 million over the next 12 months, a think tank says.
A report by Chatham House, external states the growing reliance on sustainable liquid fuels will likewise increase food prices.
The author states that biodiesel made from veggie oil was worse for the environment 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 required fuel suppliers to add a growing proportion of sustainable materials into the fuel and diesel they supply. These biofuels are mainly ethanol distilled from corn and biodiesel made from rapeseed, utilized cooking oil and tallow.
Deep fried fuel
But research study carried out for Chatham House says that reaching the 5% level suggests that UK motorists will have to pay an extra ₤ 460m a year due to the fact that of the greater expense of fuel at the pump and from filling up more frequently as biofuels have a lower energy content.
The report state that if the UK is to satisfy its responsibilities to EU energy targets the cost to drivers is most likely to rise to ₤ 1.3 bn per year by 2020.
"It is hard to find any good news," Rob Bailey, senior research study fellow at Chatham House, informed BBC News.
"Biofuels increase expenses and they are a very pricey way to lower carbon emissions," he stated.
The EU biofuel mandates are likewise having hugely distorting impacts in the market. Because utilized cooking oil is considered among the most sustainable kinds of biodiesel, the cost for it has risen quickly. Rob Bailey says that towards the end of 2012 it was more pricey than refined palm oil.
"It develops a financial reward to purchase refined palm oil, cook a chip in it to turn it into utilized cooking oil and after that sell it at profit,"
"It is insane however the rewards are there."
There are likewise stresses that taking EU land out of production to grow rapeseed oil in specific is creating more environment issues than it solves. The more fuel of this type that is put into cars and trucks the bigger the deficit produced in the edible oils market. This had resulted in increased imports of palm oil from Indonesia, typically produced on land.
"Once you take into account these indirect impacts, biofuels made from veggie oils actually result worldwide in more emissions than you would get from using diesel in the very first place," stated Rob Bailey.
"Plus you are asking vehicle drivers to pay more for the fuel - it makes no sense, it is a completely irrational technique."
Biofuel advantages
The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the industry, external throughout the EU, stated it was mindful of the issues brought on by the mandate. But it believes that biofuels have numerous positives.
"Blaming biofuels for all the difficulties on the planet is a bit too exaggerated," stated Isabelle Maurizi, task supervisor at the EBB.
"It has actually brought great deals of benefits. It has actually improved the security of our diesel
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Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'even Worse than Nonrenewable Fuel Source'
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