Biofuels no answer
Converting land for biofuels could actually worsen the problem of global warming.
Although proposed as a viable alternative to fossil fuels, it will create more major carbon emissions, a report has warned.
But there are alternative sources of biofuel, and today (26/2/08), the news is that biofuels should only be produced if they meet strict internationally agreed environmental standards.
A new study from Nature Conservancy, published in the journal Science, says the carbon ’saved’ by using biofuels instead of fossil fuels does not outweigh the carbon lost by converting forests, grasslands and peatlands.
“These natural areas store a lot of carbon, so converting them to croplands results in tons of carbon emitted into the atmosphere,” said lead author Joe Fargione, a scientist at the Nature Conservancy.
“It would create a ‘biofuel carbon debt’ by releasing 17 to 420 times more carbon dioxide than the fossil fuels they replace.” [more]
“Apart from used chip fat, there is no such thing as a sustainable biofuel” said George Monbiot, author of best selling environmentalist books.
Recycled = carbon-neutral
The UK’s biggest independent supplier to the fish and chip industry is aiming to slash the costs of fuelling its fleet of vehicles by making its own biodiesel from used cooking oils.
Henry Colbeck’s new onsite biodiesel-processing facility has begun recycling waste oils collected from shops across Scotland and the North of England.
Despite approximately 100,000 tonnes of waste vegetable oil being collected from the catering and food industries each year, a considerable amount still goes uncollected and often ends up being poured down the drain.
recent advances
New legislation means users of cooking oils must dispose of their waste fats more responsibly. Collection services have become a growth area in the industry over recent years.
Last autumn the Environment Agency cut regulatory red-tape so that waste vegetable oil from places like chip shops can be processed and used in engines more easily.
Wight Made Bio-Diesel
This Island company makes biodiesel from waste cooking fat. It is carbon-neutral, and producieslittle or no sulphur dioxide. Every tonne of Bio-Diesel used in place of ordinary diesel, three tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions are saved.
They are keen to expand but need cooking oil in quantity.
Action
Do your bit - Get in touch by emailing them on wmbd(at)hotmail(dot)co(dot)uk
PS - bio-jetfuel next
Virgin have made a test flight using biofuel from Brazilian babassu nuts and coconuts, neither of which take cropland. Richard Branson said the flight marked a “vital breakthrough” and looked to a future using biofuel sources such as algae.
PPS - international standards
The Group of Eight (G8) richest economies and five key developing countries agreed two major sets of standards:
1. biofuels should not be made from materials grown on land
with recognised value for biodiversity.2. greenhouse gas emissions involved in their production and use
should be significantly less than those produced by fossil fuels.
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