EU set to limit crop-based biofuels

The EU is preparing to limit the use of crop-based biofuels, after a number of concerns were raised over the technology's effectiveness in cutting global emissions.

New documents seen by Reuters show that the EU is planning to restrict fuels made from plants including rapeseed and wheat to comprise just five per cent of all energy consumption across the EU transport sector by the year 2020.

Currently, this proportion stands at around 4.5 per cent, meaning that any implementation of the new legislation would mean that any further increase in production over the next eight years would have to be marginal, at most.

Previously, the EU had set a target of sourcing ten per cent of road transport fuels from renewable sources by the end of the decade, but it now appears that crop-based biofuel is not as effective as once thought and could even conflict with food production.

Currently, new biofuels made from crop residues, waste, algae or woody material are being developed that can address sustainability concerns, but while legislative targets for these forms of energy have been set in the US, there are no such goals in the EU, with production unlikely to rise substantially by the end of the decade.

With this in mind, the new draft reportedly indicates that the EU is aiming to increase the share of such advanced biofuels in its ten per cent target.

The body may also consider counting them four times over in a bid to boost interest and investment in second-generation fuels, while ensuring the target is still met.

The EU draft legislation states: "It is appropriate to encourage greater production of such advanced biofuels as these are currently not commercially available in large quantities, in part due to competition for public subsidies with now established food crop based biofuels."

Posted by Claire Manning