Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
awareness of governments as fuel consumers in terms of GHG emissions
and global warming and (3) due to policies driving the use of renewable
fuels in general and biodiesel in particular in the EU and in other regions.
Security of supply has been a major cause of concern for fossil fuel diesel
for decades now. Most of the largest oil-producing regions can, in one way
or another, be classii ed as conl ict zones. The Middle East is an obvious
example, but a recent dispute between Russia and Ukraine and Russia
and Georgia unexpectedly threatened supply of oil to Western Europe. In
this context, alternative fuel sources, especially those that can ensure the
security of supply in the long run, have become very important. A number
of renewable energy sources, such as biomass, wind and solar power and
biofuels are seen as potential alternatives and secure sources of energy.
For the transport sector biodiesel has the potential to become a secure
source of renewable energy in the EU as it can be 'homegrown'. One of
the most common feedstocks for biodiesel production, rapeseed, can be
easily grown within the EU Member States, which increases the security of
supply. However, the EU has a limited area of arable land that can be used
to produce rapeseed or other feedstocks for biodiesel, as the production
of biodiesel feedstocks will be competing with food production, which for
obvious reasons will always have a higher priority. Thus, although most
of the biodiesel used in the EU at present is produced within the EU, it
is clear that the higher proportions of biodiesel required to meet future
targets cannot be supplied internally. At some point, the EU has to rely on
imported biodiesel just as it relies on imported fossil fuel diesel now. Thus,
guaranteeing the security of supply of biodiesel could become as much of
an issue as the security of supply for fossil fuel diesel at present.
The tropical countries, such as Brazil, Malaysia, Indonesia and a
number of African countries could be the potential source of feedstocks
for the future EU market. A major concern, however, seems to be the
potential deforestation and land use changes due to increased demand
for arable lands to grow biofuel feedstocks like palm oil, oilseed rape,
soybean and sugarcane in these tropical countries. The public perception
about biodiesel being the 'green' alternative fuel is inl uenced more by
reports and opinion pieces in the newspapers than by articles in scientii c
journals. And, judging by the number of news reports and opinion pieces
on how biodiesel could bring an environmental disaster rather than being
a greener alternative to fossil fuels (for example, Monbiot, 2004, 2005;
Mortished, 2006a, 2006b), it is likely that it will take a lot more ef ort to
make people switch from fossil fuel diesel to biodiesel, even those with a
concern for the environment. The European Commission (2005) seems to
share this concern as it fears that public support for biofuels will dwindle
if worries about possible deforestation and destruction of natural habitats
