Biofuels: Policies, Standards and Technologies
| Date: 12 April 2011, 08:01
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This report from the Biofuels task force of the World Energy Council reviews the debate between supporters and opponents of Biofuels, against the backdrop of rapidly increasing energy demand.
Skyrocketing prices of crude oil in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century accompanied by rising prices for food focused political and public attention on the role of biofuels. On the one hand, biofuels were considered as a potential automotive fuel with a bright future, on the other hand, biofuels were accused of competing with food production for land. The truth must lie somewhere in-between and is strongly dependent on the individual circumstance in different countries and regions. As food and energy are closely interconnected and often compete with each other for other resources, such as water, the World Energy Council - following numerous requests of its Member Committees - decided to undertake an independent assessment of biofuels policies, technologies and standards.
The study focuses primarily on biofuels for transportation and is divided into seven Chapters.
Chapter 1 introduces general concepts and basic information about biofuels, including international standardisation, classification and certification issues and lays down the guiding principles adopted by the Task Force.
Chapter 2 looks into the future of biofuels, including land use and impacts on food prices, and presents brief case studies from eight countries.
Chapter 3 summarises information about the various aspects defining development of biofuels: geography, feedstocks, production and end-use technologies, issues related to engine/fuel interface, energy efficiency and a technology outlook for near and longer term.
Chapter 4 addresses markets, financial issues and criteria, petroleum price volatility, vegetable oil market dynamics, supply and demand fundamentals.
Chapter 5 reviews standardisation, general policies and regulations, in particular the examples of EU and Brazil.
Chapter 6 discusses sustainability principles and criteria, including Life Cycle Assessment, economic and environmental aspects.
Chapter 7 summarises the main messages and presents conclusions and recommendations.
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