EU legislation which promotes the adoption of biodiesel will not make a difference to global warming, according to a new study reported in the Chemistry & Industry magazine.
In fact, it says, the uptake of the alternative fuel could potentially result in greater emissions of greenhouse gases than from conventional petroleum-derived diesel.
Analysts at the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI), who conducted the research, compared the emissions of greenhouse gases by the two fuels across their overall life cycles from production to combustion in cars.
The results show that biodiesel derived from rapeseed grown on dedicated farmland emits nearly the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions (defined as CO2 equivalents) per kilometre driven as conventional diesel does.
However, if the land used to grow rapeseed was instead used to grow trees, petroleum diesel would emit only a third of the CO2 equivalent emissions as biodiesel.
Pollution from farming process
Petroleum diesel emits 85 per cent of its greenhouse gases at the final stage, when burnt in the engine, but rapeseed derived biodiesel (RME) emits two-thirds of pollution during the farming process.
Cropland emits nitrous oxide (NO2) which is 200 to 300 times more potent as a greenhouse gas than CO2.
The results of this analysis should have big implications for EU policymakers.
The 2003 EU Biofuels Directive aims to increase the levels of biofuels to 5.75 per cent of all transport fuels by 2010, up from roughly two per cent currently.
This will be further increased to a 10 per cent share in 2010, the Commission announced in January this year.
Transportation currently accounts for more than a fifth of all greenhouse gas emissions emitted in the EU.
Rapeseed-derived biodiesel is the major renewables-derived biofuel used across Europe and, as well as helping to improve energy security, is expected to play an important role in helping to meet the EU's Kyoto commitment to reduce levels of greenhouse gas emissions by eight per cent by 2012 relative to 1990 levels, and by 20 per cent by 2020.
You’ve read it. Now review it.
Date Published: April 23, 2007
More by this source
|
Print
|
Send to a friend
|
Rate & Comment
|
Keep up to date
If you found this item fun or informative, please let others know. Simply send to a friend or recommend it to even more people - on any of the following sites:
Latest Science News | reddit | digg.com | del.icio.us | rollyo | stumbleupon
More on biofuels...
Biofuels may not deliver CO2 cuts, scientists warn
Biofuels have a limited ability to replace fossil fuels and should not be regarded as a "silver bullet" solution to reducing transport emissions, British scientists warned today.
The energy debate needs to be rational - not shrill soundbites
The debate on energy issues is currently too often characterised by hype, pitching every technology as either a magic bullet or a catastrophe.
Biofuels: a solution that became part of the problem
Using plant-based materials for fuel in cars and trucks was until recently heralded as the answer to the need to reduce carbon emissions from petrol and diesel fuels.
