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1 Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'Worse than Nonrenewable Fuel Source'

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

The UK's "unreasonable" usage of biofuels will cost motorists 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 rates.

The author says that biodiesel made from vegetable oil 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 add a growing proportion of sustainable materials into the gas 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 performed for Chatham House says that reaching the 5% level suggests that UK drivers will need to pay an additional ₤ 460m a year due to the fact that of the higher cost of fuel at the pump and from filling more frequently as biofuels have a lower energy content.

The report say that if the UK is to satisfy its commitments to EU energy targets the cost to vehicle drivers is likely to rise to ₤ 1.3 bn per annum by 2020.

"It is tough to find any great news," Rob Bailey, senior research fellow at Chatham House, informed BBC News.

"Biofuels increase expenses and they are a really expensive way to reduce carbon emissions," he said.

The EU biofuel requireds are likewise having hugely distorting effects in the marketplace. Because utilized cooking oil is considered one of the most sustainable types of biodiesel, the rate for it has actually risen rapidly. Rob Bailey states that towards the end of 2012 it was more costly than refined palm oil.

"It develops a monetary reward to purchase refined palm oil, cook a chip in it to turn it into used cooking oil and then sell it at revenue,"

"It is crazy however the incentives exist."

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

"Once you take into consideration these indirect results, biofuels made from veggie oils actually result worldwide in more emissions than you would get from using diesel in the 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 illogical strategy."

Biofuel advantages

The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the market, external across the EU, said it was mindful of the issues triggered by the required. But it thinks that biofuels have lots of positives.

"Blaming biofuels for all the troubles worldwide is a bit too exaggerated," said Isabelle Maurizi, project supervisor at the EBB.

"It has actually brought lots of benefits. It has actually improved the security of our diesel