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

The UK's "unreasonable" usage of biofuels will cost 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 also increase food costs.

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

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

Since 2008, the UK has needed fuel providers to include a growing proportion of 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 brought out for Chatham House states that reaching the 5% level implies that UK drivers will have to pay an extra ₤ 460m a year since of the higher expense 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 fulfill its responsibilities to EU energy targets the expense to vehicle drivers is likely to increase to ₤ 1.3 bn per annum by 2020.

"It is tough to find any excellent news," Rob Bailey, senior research 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 hugely distorting effects in the market. Because utilized cooking oil is considered as among the most sustainable types of biodiesel, the cost for it has actually increased rapidly. Rob Bailey states that towards completion of 2012 it was more expensive than refined palm oil.

"It creates a financial incentive to buy refined palm oil, cook a chip in it to turn it into used cooking oil and after that sell it at profit,"

"It is insane however the rewards exist."

There are likewise worries 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 cars and trucks the bigger the deficit created 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 impacts, biofuels made from veggie oils in fact result worldwide in more emissions than you would get from utilizing diesel in the very first location," said Rob Bailey.

"Plus you are asking drivers to pay more for the fuel - it makes no sense, it is an entirely illogical method."

Biofuel advantages

The European Biodiesel Board (EBB), which represents the market, external throughout the EU, said it understood the problems 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 exaggerated," said Isabelle Maurizi, task manager at the EBB.

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