Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'even worse than fossil fuels'
The UK's "irrational" use of biofuels will cost drivers around ₤ 460 million over the next 12 months, a think tank states.
A report by Chatham House, external states the growing reliance on sustainable liquid fuels will also increase food costs.
The author states that biodiesel made from veggie oil was worse for the climate than fossil fuels.
Under EU law, external, biofuels are set to make up 5% of the UK's transportation fuel from today.
Since 2008, the UK has needed fuel providers to add a growing percentage of sustainable materials into the gas and diesel they provide. These biofuels are generally ethanol distilled from corn and biodiesel made from rapeseed, used cooking oil and tallow.
Deep fried fuel
But research study performed for Chatham House says that reaching the 5% level suggests that UK drivers will have to pay an additional ₤ 460m a year due to the fact that of the higher expense of fuel at the pump and from filling regularly as biofuels have a lower energy content.
The report state that if the UK is to fulfill its commitments to EU energy targets the expense to vehicle drivers is most likely to rise to ₤ 1.3 bn per year by 2020.
"It is difficult to find any excellent news," Rob Bailey, senior research study fellow at Chatham House, informed BBC News.
"Biofuels increase expenses and they are a very costly way to reduce carbon emissions," he said.
The EU biofuel requireds are likewise having hugely distorting effects in the market. Because utilized cooking oil is concerned as among the most sustainable types of biodiesel, the price for it has increased quickly. Rob Bailey states that towards completion of 2012 it was more pricey than refined palm oil.
"It creates a financial incentive to buy refined palm oil, prepare a chip in it to turn it into utilized cooking oil and after that sell it at revenue,"
"It is insane however the incentives are there."
There are also stresses that taking EU land out of to grow rapeseed oil in specific is developing more climate problems than it fixes. The more fuel of this type that is put into automobiles the bigger the deficit produced in the edible oils market. This had resulted in increased imports of palm oil from Indonesia, often produced on deforested land.
"Once you take into consideration these indirect results, biofuels made from vegetable oils actually result worldwide in more emissions than you would receive from using diesel in the very first place," stated Rob Bailey.
"Plus you are asking drivers to pay more for the fuel - it makes no sense, it is an entirely illogical method."
Biofuel advantages
The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the market, external across the EU, said it understood the problems triggered by the required. But it believes that biofuels have numerous positives.
"Blaming biofuels for all the troubles on the planet is a bit too overstated," said Isabelle Maurizi, task supervisor at the EBB.
"It has actually brought lots of advantages. It has enhanced the security of our diesel
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Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'Worse than Nonrenewable Fuel Source'
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