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1 Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'even Worse than Fossil Fuels'

Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'even worse than fossil fuels'

The UK's "illogical" 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 says the growing reliance on sustainable liquid fuels will likewise increase food costs.

The author states that biodiesel made from grease was worse for the climate than nonrenewable fuel sources.

Under EU law, external, biofuels are set to comprise 5% of the UK's transportation fuel from today.

Since 2008, the UK has needed fuel suppliers to include a growing percentage of sustainable materials into the gas and diesel they supply. These biofuels are generally 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 states that the 5% level implies that UK motorists will need to pay an additional ₤ 460m a year because of the higher expense of fuel at the pump and from filling up more frequently as biofuels have a lower energy material.

The report state 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 costs and they are a very pricey way to reduce carbon emissions," he stated.

The EU biofuel mandates are likewise having hugely distorting results in the marketplace. Because utilized cooking oil is considered one of the most sustainable types of biodiesel, the price for it has increased rapidly. Rob Bailey states that towards the end of 2012 it was more pricey than refined palm oil.

"It creates a monetary incentive to buy refined palm oil, prepare a chip in it to turn it into utilized cooking oil and after that sell it at profit,"

"It is insane however the rewards exist."

There are also frets that taking EU land out of production to grow rapeseed oil in particular is creating more climate issues than it resolves. The more fuel of this type that is put into automobiles the larger the deficit developed in the edible oils market. This had lead to increased imports of palm oil from Indonesia, often produced on deforested land.

"Once you consider these indirect impacts, biofuels made from vegetable oils actually result worldwide in more emissions than you would obtain from utilizing diesel in the first location," said Rob Bailey.

"Plus you are asking motorists to pay more for the fuel - it makes no sense, it is a completely illogical method."

Biofuel benefits

The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the market, external across the EU, stated it was mindful of the issues caused by the mandate. But it believes that biofuels have many positives.

"Blaming biofuels for all the problems worldwide is a bit too exaggerated," stated Isabelle Maurizi, job supervisor at the EBB.

"It has brought lots of advantages. It has enhanced the security of our diesel