The EU biofuels target for 2020 can be met with conventional feedstocks and current technology without major agricultural land use changes and environmental consequences, according to a report published today (14th March). The report, 'A European road map for biofuels', was prepared by the Refuel project, an independent group of insititutes and universities, and handed over to the EU at the World Biofuels Markets Conference in Brussels.

The project had been funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme in order to give the EU some independent material evaluate the future of biofuels. Driven by a group of independent and well repected instiutions its publication appears to nail the ongoing debate on whether the target set by the EU are achievable and sustainable.

While the report backed the current situation and the use of first generation biofuels it did  suggest that, in the long term, only advanced, second-generation biofuels are expected to provide a substantial contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing energy security. However, it noted that the introduction of these advanced biofuels requires supporting measures on several policy levels.

"Biofuels potential can become available without compromising food and feed supply", said the Refuel team. "Furthermore, it does not require conversion of forestland, grassland and nature conservation areas into arable land. The latter is essential since recent studies indicate that such land use changes may lead to losses of soil carbon that would turn any greenhouse gas emission reductions into net increases of emissions. In the new EU member states and Ukraine, agriculture has ample opportunities for increasing crop and livestock yields, thereby freeing up agricultural land for biofuel feedstocks cultivation."

The report is clear in its stance that the use of first generation biofuels is important in developing the sector in the EU. "These biofuels, produced from residues and woody or grassy plants, show substantially higher yields per hectare of land, and provide far better opportunities for the EU industry to develop an innovative sector. Any biofuels policy promoting these benefits leads to improved opportunities for second-generation biofuels, the Refuel analyses show. In comparison, conventional biofuels (biodiesel from oil crops and bioethanol from sugar crops, cereals) perform less adequately on these most commonly used arguments for increasing biofuels use.

However, it says, for advanced biofuels to enter the market, various obstacles will need to be tackled. Required production technology needs to be further developed and deployed, as well as new supply chains for agricultural and forestry residues and crops. Overcoming these hurdles will require a favourable and stable investment climate. Furthermore, Refuel shows that cross-sector strategies can help reduce these barriers. Examples are the initial development of biomass supply chains for power generation, or integration of biofuel plants in district heating systems. In this context, the role of the Central and Eastern European countries will be pivotal, as this region has most of the feedstock potential.

---

Share this article: