Commission report says 10% biofuels share can be achieved sustainably
Wed 25 July 2007
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The proposal to achieve the EU's 10% target for biofuels by 2020 could be achieved sustainably and without greatly affecting food markets or prices, according to a new report by the EC's agriculture department. However the findings are disputed by the German advisory council on the environment (SRU).
The EU study suggests the target's impact on European land use would be "relatively modest". According to a report in ENDS, biofuel production would account for around 15 per cent of total arable land in 2020 if the target were met, it says.
It goes on to say that if the EU pressed into service "set-aside" land currently lying fallow under common agricultural policy rules, the target could be met with no significant increase the use of fertilisers and pesticides. Environmentalists have strongly opposed the end of set-aside rules, arguing that this would impact on EU wildlife.
The biofuel target would push cereal prices up by only 3-6 per cent by 2020, according to the report and EU biofuel exports would decrease to reflect increased domestic demand. Europe could produce 80 per cent of its biofuel feedstock domestically, with imports providing the remaining 20 per cent, it says.
The study's conclusions are based on the assumption of significant progress in 'second-generation' biofuels that use more waste products and turn a greater proportion of crop biomass into usable fuel. It assumes that by 2020 these will account for 30 per cent of the market.
However, the report notes that if no second generation biofuels are available, imports would need to provide half of all EU demand. Agricultural prices would then be "significantly higher" than predicted by the main scenario.
The agriculture department's findings are contradicted by the German advisory council on the environment (SRU) which has called for the EU’s 10 per cent by 2020 target for transport biofuels to be revised downwards. The call follows the recent publication of an SRU report suggesting that if existing EU legislation on nature and water protection is respected, the 10 per cent target could only be met through "booming imports".
Meanwhile the UK has fulfilled its obligation to report to the European Commission on the effectiveness of UK Government support for biofuels during the calendar year 2006.
The report covers the UK's targets for future biofuel sales and the measures taken in 2006 and early 2007 to promote the use of renewable fuels for transport purposes. It also covers the measures the UK has put in place to ensure that the environmental benefits of biofuels are fully realised. Later sections include details of UK biofuels sales in 2006.
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