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

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

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

The author says that biodiesel made from veggie oil was worse for the climate than fossil fuels.

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

Since 2008, the UK has actually needed fuel providers to add a growing proportion of sustainable products 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 performed for Chatham House states that reaching the 5% level indicates that UK drivers will have to pay an additional ₤ 460m a year since of the higher cost of fuel at the pump and from filling up more frequently as biofuels have a lower energy content.

The report say that if the UK is to meet its responsibilities to EU energy targets the cost to drivers is most likely to rise to ₤ 1.3 bn per annum by 2020.

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

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

The EU biofuel requireds are likewise having hugely distorting effects in the marketplace. Because used cooking oil is considered as one of the most sustainable kinds of biodiesel, the rate for it has increased quickly. Rob Bailey states that towards the end of 2012 it was more pricey than refined palm oil.

"It creates a monetary reward to buy refined palm oil, prepare a chip in it to turn it into used cooking oil and after that sell it at earnings,"

"It is insane but the rewards are there."

There are likewise frets that taking EU land out of production to grow rapeseed oil in specific is producing more than it resolves. The more fuel of this type that is put into cars and trucks the bigger the deficit created in the edible oils market. This had actually resulted in increased imports of palm oil from Indonesia, often produced on deforested land.

"Once you take into consideration these indirect results, biofuels made from vegetable oils really result worldwide in more emissions than you would obtain from utilizing diesel in the very first place," stated Rob Bailey.

"Plus you are asking vehicle 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, stated it was conscious of the issues brought on by the mandate. But it believes that biofuels have numerous positives.

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

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