‘Failed experiment’: experts question the true sustainability of biofuels

Biofuels are being touted as a solution to Europe’s dwindling oil supplies as prices continue to soar due to the war with Iran.

European Commissioner Dan Jorgensen called on countries to outline measures to reduce oil and gas use, particularly in the transport sector. This came after ministers met on Tuesday (March 31) to address the global oil shortage of 11 million barrels per day.

Much of the panic revolves around the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s biggest fossil fuel chokepoints, which carries about a fifth of the world’s oil supplies. About 20% of the diesel consumed in the EU and UK comes from the Gulf region, according to commodity trading company Arcagesta.

In a letter obtained by Euronews, the EU is advised to consider biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels, a trend that has been on the rise since the start of the Middle East conflict.

What is biofuel?

Biofuel targets existed long before the US and Israel’s war against Iran. Under the revised Renewable Energy Directive, EU countries are required to achieve a 29% share of renewable energy in transport by 2030, which also includes sub-targets of 5.5% for renewable hydrogen and advanced biofuels.

Biofuels are made from plant materials and are classified by their source.

First-generation biofuels are derived from edible crops such as corn and sugarcane, while second-generation biofuels are derived from non-edible plants and agricultural waste. Third generation biofuels are derived from algae.

Using plants (also known as biomass) as fuel still emits CO2 into the atmosphere, but many biofuel companies claim that this is the same level of CO2 sequestered from the atmosphere by crop production.

Biodiesel (made from vegetable oil) can be installed in cars as is, but bioethanol, which is made by fermenting sugar or wheat, cannot be used without modifying the engine first.

Can biofuels replace fossil fuels?

A recent study by the Karlsruher Institute of Technology (KIT) declares that Europe has enough renewable resources to power transport without fossil fuels in the long term.

“Efficient use of residues and waste can reduce road transport’s dependence on energy imports while reducing CO₂ emissions,” says KIT’s Professor Thomas Haas.

The report, commissioned by BMW AG (which has long promoted the use of biofuels), found that “particularly large amounts” of residues and waste materials, such as straw from agriculture, wood chips from forestry, and organic waste, can be used to make fuels.

They also identified energy crops that grow on low-yield land and do not compete with food production as potential sources of biofuels.

“The really big potential is in materials such as plant residues or wood fibers, which in any case are produced by many processes and can provide sufficiently climate-friendly fuels,” says Professor Thomas Koch from KIT’s Institute for Internal Combustion Engines (IFKM).

“But it can only be successful if governments and the public give the necessary priority to the production of advanced refueling biofuels.”

But climate experts question whether this will work. Lucien Mathieu, automotive director for transport and environment, told Euronews Earth that e-fuels are at best a “niche solution” for road transport, insisting that a move to electric vehicles (EVs) would be a smarter move.

“EVs have clean, efficient technology that is cheap enough for the mass market,” Matthew explains.

“European lawmakers need to focus on industrial policy to build battery factories, secure supplies of critical raw materials and build an EV industry that can compete globally with China.”

Why are biofuels so controversial?

Biofuels are often touted as a silver bullet to transition the world away from fossil fuels, but they also have a number of drawbacks.

Because many biofuels are made from staple crops such as corn and soybeans, farmers may prioritize growing fuel over food. This could raise global food prices and exacerbate food insecurity, especially in low-income countries.

A study conducted in Congo last year found that EU biofuel projects were putting the country’s food security at risk, despite claims that only “degraded land” was being used.

According to a 2023 study commissioned by T&E, an area of ​​land the size of Ireland is being wasted as biofuel crops in Europe. This land could be used to feed 120 million people and absorb twice as much CO2 if returned to nature.

On the other hand, if just 2.5 percent of this land area was dedicated to solar panels, the same amount of energy would be generated, the report found.

This is why some climate experts describe biofuels as a “failed experiment” and choose instead to focus on the transition to clean power from wind and solar.

“Right now, we’re giving up huge tracts of land to crops that we can just burn in our cars,” says Mike Mallarens, T&E’s biofuels manager.

“This land has the potential to feed millions of people and, if returned to nature, could become a biodiversity-rich carbon sink. Crop biofuels are probably the dumbest thing ever promoted in the name of climate.”

In theory, biofuels are classified as renewable energy, but growing crops such as sugarcane, soybeans, and corn for energy is also associated with deforestation in critical environments such as the Amazon rainforest.

This calls into question whether biofuels are truly carbon neutral, as growing, harvesting, and processing these crops requires significant amounts of energy (often derived from fossil fuels).