How beneficial are biofuels actually for the environment? Image source: Shutterstock (#132620504)
The Royal Academy of Engineering has released a report that supports the claim that use of biofuel has to be increased, but at the same time warns from some that are as polluting as fossil fuels or even lead to more emissions.
As liquid fuels will be needed by aircraft and ships for a long time, the report commissioned by the UK government sees the need for increased use to help fight climate change in the long run. Combining more than 250 analyses of the impact of biofuels around the world, including how food-based biofuels contribute to destruction of forests and peatlands because of additional land use, the report concludes that biofuel production should make more use of waste, such as used cooking oil and timber.
Research found that in some cases, e.g. when using waste stalks and cobs from corn, biofuels could have nearly zero emissions overall. “Overall our evidence [is] that the sustainability risk of increasing levels of biofuels can be managed and the government should be confident of increasing the mandate for biofuels,” said Nilay Shah, a professor at Imperial College London.
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