EU to change biofuels policy: imports from Brazil, solid biomass for electric transport, biohydrogen

July 07
After a three day informal meeting, European Energy Ministers have signalled the beginning of a change of policy on biofuels. Instead of producing liquid biofuels in the EU, they are considering to import the green fuels from Brazil, where they can be made far more efficiently. Thus the view is shifting towards the 'North-South' relationship always advocated by Biopact. What is more, the Commission's target of having 10% of all transport powered by 'renewables' by 2020 is now being rephrased: 'renewable' does not have to mean 'liquid biofuels'. Instead, solid biomass used for the production of electricity to be used in more efficient electric cars, is also a way to meet the target. Biohydrogen, possibly coupled to carbon capture and storage to yield 'negative emissions' energy, and used in fuel cell cars, is yet another way to be 'renewable'.
The ministers of the different EU member states have the highest decision making authority, superseding that of the Commission. Their views thus ultimately drive policies and legislation. The new outlook on biofuels comes at a time when France takes over the rotating European Council presidency. France is known to favour a transition to electric transport (in part because it is the European country with the strongest energy security, the result of its heavy reliance on nuclear power).
The Energy Ministers' view that the EU should consider importing efficient biofuels from Brazil is based on the position of lawmaker Claude Turmes, who is leading renewable energy legislation through the European Parliament. Turmes has received strong backing from his colleagues in the parliament and suggests a first bilateral agreement with the Latin American country.
My analysis shows the only country where we can sustainably import substantial quantities of bio-fuels to the EU at the moment is Brazil. [...] Such an agreement would be a test case, with tough criteria both on sustainability and social issues. - Claude Turmes, MEP, Group of the Greens
Brazilian biofuels - notably sugarcane ethanol - can be up to 8 to 10 times more efficient than those made in the European Union. They are also up to 5 times less costly to produce, don't require subsidies and are very competitive with gasoline today. Biofuels made in Brazil have not had an impact on global food prices, unlike fuels made in Europe or the US.
Biopact's entire goal has been to promote such a North-South relationship: produce biofuels there where they make most ecological, economic and social sense. That is, in the countries of the South, most notably Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa, where the largest potential can be found (see map, click to enlarge). We therefor fully support the new emerging European view on biofuels in as much as it begins to take the forms of such a 'pact' with the South.
A second point of Tumes' work, which received parliamentary backing, is a review of the target for renewable energy in transport. By 2015, only 4% would have to come from liquid biofuels. At least one fifth of that target would have to be either second generation biofuels (made from non-grain biomass) or electric transportation based on electricity obtained from solid biomass.
Source: http://biopact.com/2008/07/eu-to-change-biofuels-policy-imports.html