Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Bio Fuel News .




BIO FUEL
EU changes tack on biofuels on greenhouse gas concerns
by Staff Writers
Brussels (AFP) Sept 11, 2012


The European Union plans to trim targets on biofuel use, once seen as a potential source of cheap alternative energy but now widely blamed for soaring food prices, according to a draft proposal.

In 2009, the EU fixed a target for renewables to account for 20 percent of all the bloc's energy consumption and 10 percent in the transport sector, with biofuels set to play a growing role.

The aim was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, seen as responsible for global warming.

But a draft EU proposal seen by AFP on Tuesday said some biofuel production was failing to deliver hoped-for reductions in greenhouse gases because changing land use to grow crops for energy had its own adverse impact on emissions.

Emissions driven by land use change "can vary substantially ... and can negate some or all of the greenhouse gas savings of individual biofuels relative to the fossil fuels they replace," it said.

Accordingly, the draft suggested that by 2020 biofuels should account for 5.0 percent of transport sector energy use, up from the current 4.5 percent.

The balance of the 2020 transport target would be met by other renewables, with the draft saying the EU should "encourage a greater market penetration of advanced (low-Indirect Land Use Change) biofuels."

While current investment in the industry should be protected, the aim should be to "limit the contribution that conventional biofuels ... make towards attainment of the targets in the Renewable Energy Directive," the draft said.

An EU source said the proposals could be submitted in October.

Environmental and anti-poverty campaigners welcomed the news.

"It is excellent news that the European Commission finally realises that EU biofuels mandates are causing huge problems, including surging food prices, worsening hunger and accelerating climate change," said Marc Olivier Herman, Oxfam's EU biofuels expert.

"However the proposed 5.0 percent (transport) cap ... by 2020 won't help put the brakes on the current spike on food prices. EU biofuels mandates must be scrapped altogether now," he said in a statement.

Herman also called on the EU to "resist the backlash from industry and farming lobbies that have grown fat ... as a result of this crazy biofuels policy while poor people go hungry and consumers' money gets wasted."

In reaction, the German biofuels industry group association said such changes would be a bitter blow, especially for bioethanol and biodiesel producers targetting the transport sector.

"Such changes could force the closure of plants which were built only to meet the targets set down in the EU renewable energy policy," association head Elmar Baumann said in a statement.

.


Related Links
Bio Fuel Technology and Application News






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle








BIO FUEL
Waste cooking oil makes bioplastics cheaper
London, UK (SPX) Sep 04, 2012
'Bioplastics' that are naturally synthesized by microbes could be made commercially viable by using waste cooking oil as a starting material. This would reduce environmental contamination and also give high-quality plastics suitable for medical implants, according to scientists presenting their work at the Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference at the University of Warwick. T ... read more


BIO FUEL
China 'deeply regrets' EU solar panel probe

EU hits Chinese solar companies with massive dumping probe

Constellation announces the completion of 16MW solar installation

Showing the way to improved water-splitting catalysts

BIO FUEL
EU changes tack on biofuels on greenhouse gas concerns

Waste cooking oil makes bioplastics cheaper

Japan toilet maker showcases 'poop-powered' motorbike

Biorefinery makes use of every bit of a soybean

BIO FUEL
Analysis sets price of global wind farms

SeaRoc charter MPI Adventure for Narec's Offshore Anemometry Hub Installation

Japan starts up first offshore wind farm

Maximum Protection against Dust; Minimal Effort

BIO FUEL
LEDs winning light race to save energy, the environment

China hikes fuel prices for second month

Ugandan govt. releases oil exploration map

Nigeria has former militants guarding oil

BIO FUEL
France aims at tiered energy pricing to encourage savings

Renewable Energy Sources Could be the Key to Reaching Through to Iran

Electricity prices spark welcome political collaboration

Australian shipping emissions identified

BIO FUEL
Volkswagen to recall 7,500 cars in China: watchdog

GM says China sales grow despite slowdown

US auto sales jump 20 percent in August

New Saab cars to be rolled out in 2014

BIO FUEL
Wild bees: Champions for food security and protecting our biodiversity

US fruit giant Dole settles 38 pesticide complaints

Spinach power gets a big boost

Bees, fruits and money

BIO FUEL
World watches for 'iPhone 5' unveiling Wednesday

Airborne observatory and electronic noses - DLR presents new space developments at ILA

Estonian first graders to learn computer code

Tough gel stretches to 21 times its length, recoils, and heals itself




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement,agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement