EU warned against expecting massive benefits from biofuels in transport

In one of the first transport initiatives drafted by the agriculture directorate, the proposals are a follow-on from the Commission’s European Biomass Energy Action Plan, published in December. But T&E is warning against putting too much faith in the potential of biofuels to make a major contribution to solving transport’s environmental problems.

The primary goals of the biomass action plan are to fight climate change and boost European energy security. The Commission also hopes it will provide alternative markets for European farmers and contribute to sustainable development.

After discussing the action plan last month, EU agriculture ministers issued a statement saying biofuels “offer one of the best means to reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil fuels”.

But environmental groups are concerned that biofuels are being seen as an easy solution, with many of their disadvantages barely recognised. Last month T&E teamed up with four other Brussels-based NGOs in writing to the environment commissioner Stavros Dimas, warning of the risks of getting too excited about biomass.

“Biofuels could deliver significant environmental benefits and play a part in an EU-wide strategy to fight climate change,” the letter says. “But this potential will only be delivered if the production of biofuels is sustainable in terms of his impact on biodiversity, water and soil, and if genuine emissions savings are made throughout the life-cycle of a product.”

The NGOs warn that the risks include overestimating the potential of biofuels to reduce greenhouse gases, harming biodiversity in the EU, and creating incentives that would help to destroy biodiversity-rich ecosystems in developing countries.

T&E policy officer Aat Peterse said: “There seems to be a growing fashion for saying biofuels can make a big contribution to fuel efficiency, but they are not a solution. We will need to use less fuel. In addition, there is no certification process to guarantee that the environment would not suffer if there were a boost in crops for biofuels, and there are still questions to be answered over the efficiency of conversion rates. There is a lovely idea that we can grow our fuel through harmless crops in picturesque fields, but the reality isn’t so simple.”

The transport strategy is expected to propose action in seven areas, including raising current limits on blending ethanol with petrol with the aim of reducing carbon emissions from transport.

Some economists fear a boost in biofuels usage in the EU could benefit non-European farmers; Brazilian farmers can currently produce vast quantities of bioethanol far more cheaply than farmers in Europe.

This news story is taken from the February 2006 edition of T&E Bulletin.