In Europe, all sectors covered by the Kyoto Protocol have decreased their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 1990 except one: transport. Transport emissions have increased since then by almost 30% and now represent over one fifth of total GHG emissions in the EU.
“This fact strongly underlines why it is vital that Europe sticks to biofuels - a strong European renewable ethanol sector will help us to reduce our oil dependency and carbon emissions in tandem. Renewable ethanol production in Europe is increasing, and our industry is ready to play a vital role in decarbonising EU transport”, says Mr. Rob Vierhout, ePURE's Secretary General.
The Commission Staff Working Document accompanying the Transport White Paper entitled “Roadmap to a Single European Transport Area – Towards a competitive and resource efficient transport system” contains “several positive conclusions for biofuels” reports ePURE. By 2050 biofuels could represent around 40% of energy consumption in long distance road freight; biofuels could be utilised in railway transport; second and third generation biofuels will be important in the energy needs in future aviation; maritime transport could be powered by biofuels, the document finds.
“The White Paper confirms that in some transport modes biofuels are the only option to go low-carbon. We want the Commission to come forward with concrete legislative proposals that will support European ethanol producers in the context that biofuels is the only-here-and-now solution to fuelling the European transport sector sustainably,” adds Vierhout.
“With renewable fuel ethanol use, depending on the raw material used, the carbon dioxide emission savings can be up to 95% compared to fossil fuel. Renewable fuel ethanol produced from wheat can achieve up to a 69% emission saving while renewable ethanol made from lignocellulosic (non-food) material, such as straw, also shows very promising results,” calculates ePURE, adding that EU-produced renewable ethanol already meets the highest environmental criteria in the world.
For additional information:
