The Dismal Prospect of Advanced Biofuels in the EU
by Zoltán Szabó (EurActiv) Advanced biofuels are proposed as the fuels of the future to replace oil, but the EU regulatory environment is fuzzy and uncertain to lure investors and some questionable solutions may benefit the most – in addition to oil, writes Zoltán Szabó. …
… Electrification is the future, but it will do nothing for the existing vehicle fleet, and since it takes 10.7 years to replace the average car in Europe, we have got at least two interim decades where solutions are badly needed. Oil needs to be replaced.
One of the key elements of the Renewable Energy Directive under revision in the EU is the proposal to increase the share of advanced biofuels. Arguably, the largest scale in advanced biofuels is with using agricultural residues, such as wheat straw, corn stover or sawdust (forestry residues) and energy crops. There is a great sustainable biomass potential across Europe. So it is understandable that cellulosic ethanol has a prominent role in the deployment of advanced biofuels.
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Regrettably, advanced biofuels are proposed at the expense of conventional biofuels, not oil. Among others, the Nova Institute finds that conventional ethanol, such as from feed corn, wheat or sugar beet, are as sustainable as advanced biofuels. They will remain cost competitive, so why would investors risk their money when the regulatory environment is so uncertain? In fact, as far as can be seen, no financial investor is planning to invest in cellulosic ethanol at scale. We need true advanced biofuel, including cellulosic ethanol, but to replace oil, not other renewable fuels.
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Unless the EU starts making sense in the definition of advanced biofuels, abandons its aim to phase out conventional ethanol (thereby creating market uncertainty) and adopts targets for renewable energy in transport (say 15%) alongside targets for true advanced biofuels by 2030, the future of cellulosic biofuels will not be bright in Europe, with oil having the last laugh. READ MORE