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

The UK's "illogical" usage of biofuels will cost drivers around ₤ 460 million over the next 12 months, a think tank says.

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

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

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

Since 2008, the UK has actually required fuel suppliers to include a growing proportion of sustainable materials into the fuel and diesel they supply. These biofuels are mainly 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 means that UK motorists will have to pay an extra ₤ 460m a year since of the greater cost of fuel at the pump and from filling more often as biofuels have a lower energy content.

The report state that if the UK is to meet its commitments to EU energy targets the cost to drivers is likely to rise to ₤ 1.3 bn per year by 2020.

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

"Biofuels increase expenses and they are a really expensive way to reduce carbon emissions," he said.

The EU biofuel requireds are likewise having extremely distorting effects in the market. Because utilized cooking oil is considered as one of the most sustainable types of biodiesel, the cost for it has actually risen rapidly. Rob Bailey says that towards the end of 2012 it was more costly than refined palm oil.

"It creates a financial reward to buy refined palm oil, cook a chip in it to turn it into utilized cooking oil and then sell it at profit,"

"It is crazy however the incentives are there."

There are likewise stresses that taking EU land out of production to grow rapeseed oil in specific is developing more climate issues than it solves. The more fuel of this type that is taken into vehicles the larger the deficit developed in the edible oils market. This had caused increased imports of palm oil from Indonesia, frequently produced on deforested land.

"Once you take into consideration these indirect results, biofuels made from vegetable oils actually result worldwide in more emissions than you would get from utilizing diesel in the first location," said Rob Bailey.

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

Biofuel benefits

The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the market, external throughout the EU, stated it was conscious of the problems brought on by the mandate. But it believes that biofuels have numerous positives.

"Blaming biofuels for all the troubles worldwide is a bit too overstated," said Isabelle Maurizi, task supervisor at the EBB.

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