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Will new biofuels provide the solution?. New biofuels the solution?  End of Oil Reserves (but biofuels poor substitute)  Security of Supply (but biofuels.

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Presentation on theme: "Will new biofuels provide the solution?. New biofuels the solution?  End of Oil Reserves (but biofuels poor substitute)  Security of Supply (but biofuels."— Presentation transcript:

1 Will new biofuels provide the solution?

2 New biofuels the solution?  End of Oil Reserves (but biofuels poor substitute)  Security of Supply (but biofuels poor solution)  Climate change (but biofuels poor palliative) Original three motivators for biofuels

3 New biofuels the solution? End of Oil Reserves  In 2007 greater reserves than in 1965  40 + 60 + 100 yrs → “Yamani was right”  The peak oil theory  between 2021 and 2112  more probable between 2030 and 2075  In fact 40 = “infinity”  End of “cheap–oil” era  EU need to be in control

4 New biofuels the solution? Security of supply By 2020 EU 70 % dependent on imports But :  Increase in IEA ESI vol  Biofuels > 4,2 % need to be imported  No link dependency and economic growth

5 New biofuels the solution? 3rd main argument for biofuels: climate  Biofuels ineffective solution  Climate debate provides  Emotional context  Political reality  Business opportunity !!  First two other arguments

6 New biofuels the solution? Two subsidiary arguments  “Transport sector has to do its share”  “ It is good for Agricultural employment ” Not very convincing but we are stuck with it! Not very convincing but we are stuck with it!  2% increasing to 5,75%  Ambition 10% in 2020  Biofuels maintain inefficiencies of current transport system

7 New biofuels the solution? Climate Combustion of biomass = 5 * more efficient Rapeseed oil, palm oil and sugar only lead to marginal CO 2 reduction because the rest of the plant is burned to make electricity  From climate viewpoint Biofuels only marginal help Destruction of Rainforest is deathblow to climate (James Lovelock)

8 New biofuels the solution? Political reality, yet serious concerns 1.Moral 2.Climate 3.Environment 4.Biodiversity 5.Logistics 6.Product quality 7.Economy 8.Lisbon accord

9 New biofuels the solution? Morality of biofuels 18 million people die each year from malnutrition Food requirements increase by 50 % till 2020 Biofuel demand increases food prices  Is turning food into fuel a moral proposition’?  Is “our” car more important than “their” food ?

10 New biofuels the solution? Source: IHT 11-04-2008

11 New biofuels the solution? Environment  Rapeseed cultivation  100% increase acidification (Senter Novem)  Biofuel cultivation leads to  Deforestation  Higher emissions of greenhouse gases  Soil dehydration (CE report)  Cultivation of biomass inevitably leads to destruction of natural habitat (Greenpeace) destruction of natural habitat (Greenpeace)  Rainforests are the lungs of the planet (Lovelock)

12 New biofuels the solution? The logistical quandary  Bio ethanol only adds to the Gasoline surplus in EU25;  Security of Supply is better achieved by producing bio-diesel (substitute current diesel imports)

13 Conventional B.Br. from EU sources cannot reach the 5,75 % target Based on WtW A modest increase in production capability is possible through general agricultural yield improvement

14 New biofuels the solution? Product Quality  EtOH in gasoline  Vapour pressure  Water solubility  Sensitivity of some plastic couplings  Blend characteristics  Hence potential preference for ETBE  FAME  “strange components” (Cl, P)  Lack of thermal and oxidation stability  Dilution of Lubricating oil  Hence limitation to 5 % for time being

15 New biofuels the solution? Economy First generation Biofuels heavily uncompetitive hence subsidised Is there still a learning curve ? Does first generation open the way for the second generation?? Can subsidies be stopped ?

16 New biofuels the solution? Squaring the circle

17 New biofuels the solution? Sustainability criteria New biofuels the solution? Sustainability criteria  3 “hard” criteria  Reduction of GHG emissions  No damage to environment  No destruction of biodiversity  3 “soft” criteria  No competition with food chain  Increase in welfare (GDP)  No decrease in well being (Labour conditions)

18 New biofuels the solution?  Who will make them?  How to stimulate R. & D. ?  Will there be enough ?  Is this the best use of biomass ?

19 New biofuels the solution? New biofuels  New technologies should lead to “learning curve ”  Lignocellulose fermentation (but logistical problem remains)  Biomass Hydrogenation  Biomass intake into refineries  Biomass gasification  Algae Full scale development requires another 10 years

20 “Sense” of Second Generation Based on WtW

21 Conclusion  Current biofuels make no sense  But for time being are here to stay !  New generation might make sense  In line with Lisbon  Meet “sustainability” criteria  Reduce NOx and Pm emissions  No product quality problems  Reduce EU logistical imbalance  BUT  Better things to do with Biomass  More innovative solutions to reduce Transport CO 2  Will it be cost competitive?


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