Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'worse than nonrenewable fuel sources'

The UK's "unreasonable" use of biofuels will cost vehicle drivers around ₤ 460 million over the next 12 months, a think tank states.

A report by Chatham House, external says the growing dependence on sustainable liquid fuels will likewise increase food rates.

The author says that biodiesel made from grease was even worse for the environment than nonrenewable fuel sources.

Under EU law, external, biofuels are set to make up 5% of the UK's transportation fuel from today.

Since 2008, the UK has required fuel suppliers to include a of sustainable products into the gas and diesel they provide. These biofuels are generally ethanol distilled from corn and biodiesel made from rapeseed, used cooking oil and tallow.

Deep fried fuel

But research study performed for Chatham House says that reaching the 5% level implies that UK vehicle drivers will have to pay an additional ₤ 460m a year because of the higher cost of fuel at the pump and from filling regularly as biofuels have a lower energy content.

The report state that if the UK is to fulfill its obligations to EU energy targets the expense to vehicle drivers is likely to increase to ₤ 1.3 bn per annum by 2020.

"It is difficult to discover any good news," Rob Bailey, senior research study fellow at Chatham House, told BBC News.

"Biofuels increase expenses and they are an extremely pricey method to lower carbon emissions," he stated.

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

"It develops a financial reward to purchase refined palm oil, cook a chip in it to turn it into utilized cooking oil and then offer it at revenue,"

"It is insane however the incentives exist."

There are likewise worries that taking EU land out of production to grow rapeseed oil in specific is producing more environment issues than it resolves. The more fuel of this type that is taken into vehicles the bigger the deficit created in the edible oils market. This had lead to increased imports of palm oil from Indonesia, often produced on deforested land.

"Once you consider these indirect results, biofuels made from vegetable oils actually result worldwide in more emissions than you would obtain from using diesel in the very first place," said Rob Bailey.

"Plus you are asking motorists to pay more for the fuel - it makes no sense, it is a totally illogical strategy."

Biofuel advantages

The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the industry, external across the EU, said it knew the issues triggered by the mandate. But it thinks that biofuels have numerous positives.

"Blaming biofuels for all the problems on the planet is a bit too overstated," stated Isabelle Maurizi, task manager at the EBB.

"It has actually brought lots of advantages. It has enhanced the security of our diesel