Biofuels: 'Irrational' and 'worse than fossil fuels'

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

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

The author states that biodiesel made from veggie oil was 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 add a growing percentage of sustainable products into the fuel and diesel they supply. These biofuels are primarily ethanol distilled from corn and biodiesel made from rapeseed, used cooking oil and tallow.

Deep fried fuel

But research study performed for Chatham House states that reaching the 5% level means that UK vehicle drivers will need to pay an extra ₤ 460m a year due to the fact that of the greater cost of fuel at the pump and from filling up more frequently as biofuels have a lower energy content.

The report state that if the UK is to meet its obligations to EU energy targets the expense to 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, informed BBC News.

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

The EU biofuel requireds are also having hugely distorting impacts in the market. Because used is considered as one of the most sustainable kinds of biodiesel, the rate for it has increased quickly. Rob Bailey says that towards completion of 2012 it was more pricey 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 offer it at revenue,"

"It is crazy however the rewards are there."

There are also stresses that taking EU land out of production to grow rapeseed oil in particular is developing more climate issues than it resolves. The more fuel of this type that is taken into cars and trucks the bigger the deficit developed in the edible oils market. This had resulted in increased imports of palm oil from Indonesia, often produced on deforested land.

"Once you take into account these indirect effects, biofuels made from veggie oils really result worldwide in more emissions than you would get from utilizing diesel in the very first place," said Rob Bailey.

"Plus you are asking drivers to pay more for the fuel - it makes no sense, it is a completely irrational method."

Biofuel benefits

The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the market, external across the EU, said it was mindful of the issues brought on by the required. But it thinks that biofuels have many positives.

"Blaming biofuels for all the troubles on the planet is a bit too exaggerated," stated Isabelle Maurizi, job supervisor at the EBB.

"It has brought great deals of benefits. It has actually enhanced the security of our diesel