Biofuels are considered by some as another alternative energy source, but what are Biofuels and could they make a difference ... or not, as some think?
With climate change and energy consumption now high on the world agenda, we are turning to different forms of renewable energy. With the increase of wind farms in the UK planned for the future, people are becoming more and more informed about how to reduce their energy consumption and find more sustainable sources of energy. So changes are taking place but, with so much information available, it can be difficult to know if our choices are helping or hindering our original concerns.
Damien Carrington, Head of Environment at the Guardian Newspaper, briefly explains the energy debate on Biofuels:
What are biofuels?
Biofuels are petrol and diesel substitutes produced from plants. Their great attraction is that they can be used by existing cars and lorries and, because the plants absorb carbon dioxide when they grow, burning them does not fuel global warming - in theory.
What's the problem?
Many studies have now shown that existing biofuels, such as petrol substitutes produced from corn or diesel replacements from soya or palm oil, are actually worse for the environment than petrol, once you have factored in all the fertilisers, processing and transport. Furthermore, converting food into fuels has been widely linked to the rising food prices which have driven millions around the world into hunger.
Is the UK involved?
Yes. British fuel suppliers are already required to blend a small percentage of biofuel into all petrol and diesel, rising to 5% by 2013-14. This is despite 70% of these biofuels failing to meet the government's own green standards. The EU also has a target of 10% of all fuel being derived from plants by 2020. This is driving the demand for biofuels, with UK companies ahead in acquiring millions of hectares of land in Africa.
Is there any hope for biofuels?
So-called second-generation biofuels, which produce fuels from plant waste such as stalks or wood chips, would avoid the competition with food but are only at the research stage. Even further away, and perhaps even more promising, is producing fuels from algae grown in ponds or tubes. But the volumes of fuel currently used are so vast that, even with some environmentally friendly biofuels, we will need more efficient and more electric vehicles as well as better public transport if we are to tackle climate change.
For more information on Biofuels and their global impact on people, Damien continues to discuss these issues in his article from the Observer Newspaper on 30th October 2011 entitled 'Eco dream of UK firm wrecks life for African Village.'
What can you do?
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