Examines the feasibility of achieving significant emissions reductions from the proliferation of biofuels and concludes that biofuels are not a complete, nor even the primary, solution to our transport fuel needs.
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Biofuels are being heralded as an alternative to oil that can be grown by farmers across the globe, addressing many of the economic, security, and environmental concerns associated with oil dependence. The story is not that simple, however, because the life-cycle energy efficiency and environmental impacts of biofuels varies significantly depending on feedstocks, production methods, and scale.
Plants at the Pump examines the feasibility of achieving significant emissions reductions from the proliferation of biofuels. First, it explores the challenges raised by today’s production and distribution technologies. It then turns to current biofuels policies and their environmental impacts, both positive and negative. The next section looks at how these policies drive investment, and argues that some technology incentives will make rapid scale-up of next-generation biofuels particularly challenging.
The report concludes that biofuels are not a complete, nor even the primary, solution to our transport fuel needs. They have the potential to play some role in meeting future energy demands. But since large-scale carbon displacement would require significant destruction of global forests, the benefits of biofuels would likely be outweighed by the costs with respect to forestry, agriculture markets, and economic hardship for the world’s poor.
This report is part of an ongoing collaboration between WRI and the Goldman Sachs Center for Environmental Markets.
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6 Comments
Do we have enough land for
Do we have enough land for biofuels to supply all our fuel? Isn't it better to use the land for growing food? Here in New Zealand we still hear about famines in Africa and such. - Peter Monroe
Read it and weep
http://www.slate.com/id/2122961/
More corn-for-ethanol ultimately affects food prices: higher. Like the old saw: Every problem has a solution -- and every solution creates more problems. This is the result of the "we must DO something" approach.
Brazil should be a barrel of laughs. Not.
Diminishing of Global warming
It is the time of action.Something to be done instead of seminar only on global warming.This way Biofuel is part of action;like afforestation for adoptation.All little action will help in cumulative effect in diminishing global warming.
Stop studying - take action...
While I appreciate efforts to understand the complexities surrounding biofuels and their environmental and economic impacts I believe these studies sometimes forget one central truth. That is that biofuels lower our relative dependence on foreign oil. A truth that in my opinion is every bit as important as net GHG emissions removed from the atmosphere. So who cares whether it's the sole answer?
This planet's population is not going to shrink - it's exploding. Competition for resources will only follow the curve. I think it's time everybody face the truth - GHG emissions will never contract. We might be able to slow them down a little. But the trend is set. There's no turning back. But continue with your studies WRI while I invest my meager means in chasing down feedstock and buying equipment and convincing major corporate brands to give me their waste vegetable oil and well, you know, the usual things that hungry entreprenuers do to actually get things moving. I kid about the studies thing - keep up the good work. And while you're at it call me about a grant...
Trying to save auto/oil/coal profits?
It's pathetic. Stop with the agrofuel studies! Reduce!
Auto ownership is growing at 5% annually. Agrofuels. Will. Do. Nothing. To. Stop. This.
http://www.freepublictransit.org
Even public transit burns fuel
As the report says, biofuels aren’t a magic bullet. I agree we need more vehicle efficiency, smarter transit, and less sprawl. But none of these–including biofuels–is a complete solution by itself. Doesn’t mean we should stop with the analysis of any of them.