Charity attacks rush for biofuels (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Roger Harrabin
BBC Environment Analyst

A furious attack on the drive to grow more biofuels has been launched by a charity supporting poor farmers in developing countries.

The charity - called Grain - says their research shows the rush for biofuels is causing much more environmental and social damage than previously realised.

Biofuels from crops are being heavily promoted by the US and Europe as a welcome solution to climate change.

In theory their emissions are much lower than from fossil fuels.

But the report from the charity Grain amplifies recent warnings from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that some biofuels produce hardly any carbon savings at all.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6252594.stm

[Tanuki]

1. I saw a commercial promoting Malaysian palm oil as a biofuel

on CNN today, and it made my blood run cold. The environmental destruction (rainforest, habitats of endangered wildlife) was bad enough when palm oil was only in demand for cooking and as a commercial food additive, but this trend seems bound to be catastrophic.

http://cspinet.org/new/200506021.html

[NNadir]

2. Every energy technology is perfect in theory. The problems begin only when it is tested

on an industrial scale.

On biofuels, I don't necessarily think it's "all or nothing." I think they may have a place as additives. For instance I often muse to myself about biodiesel being used to address lubricity issues with the wonder fuel DME.


But no, biofuels will never be a sustainable alternative for petroleum as petroleum is used now.


I like DME - but I think it will prove to have some drawbacks when tested at full scale. I certainly think this will be true if a cornucopian approach is taken. I think we should minimize the use of self-powered vehicles before grinding up every rain forest to make palm oil.

[razzleberry]

3. since these people decline to supply an alternative ...

I am disinclined to listen to them.

[NNadir]

4. Of course, there are alternatives, excellent ones at that.