The International Network
for Sustainable Energy

Edited by Gunnar Boye Olesen, April , 2002

EU Proposal for Biofuels

As part of the EU strategy to fulfil the Kyoto target for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (see Sustainable Energy News 35), the EU Commission has proposed a directive for promotion of biofuels with targets for the EU countries.
For most NGOs, the main problem is that the draft directive does not include any regulation regarding agricultural pollution. The risk of this is that intensive farming for biofuels will cause more agricultural pollution because of increased use of fertilizers and pesticides.
Another important objection is that the draft directive does not prioritise among the different biofuels, nor does it recognise the environmental benefits of using pure vegetable oil and ethanol rather than derivatives such as rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME) or mixtures. Pure vegetable oils can be produced locally on farms; they have no environmental or health impacts in distribution and storage. The main drawback of the pure oils is that they require changes in the motors and/or fuel system.
Third, the draft directive includes an option for targets beginning in 2009 for mixing biofuels into normal petrol and diesel. Use of such mixtures will not realise some of the benefits of biofuels, such as the opportunity for local production or the reduction of environmental impacts of the fuel supply.
While there is no joint NGO position on the draft directive, it seems obvious to demand that:
• biofuels not be allowed to increase agricultural pollution. One option would be to give the largest tax reduction for organically grown biofuels only;
• support be given to pure vegetable oil and ethanol rather than to less environmentally benign derivates;
• there be no EU demand for mixtures of biofuels in mineral oil products;
• there be firm national targets for renewable energy in transport.
Further, we suggest that the scope of the directive be broadened to include all types of renewable energy in transport. Windpower used for trains and trams is just as good for the environment as are biofuels in cars.
The council of energy ministers will discuss the issue on June 7, 2002. A decision might be made in November.

See draft directive at http://www.europa.eu.int/ eur-lex/en/search/search_lip.html and search: Commission proposal 2001-547.

Consumer Information and Investment Limitation in EU?

At the EU Summit in Barcelona in March, it was decided that EU businesses can choose their own electricity and gas supplier(s) after 2004. As part of the same revision of the Internal Energy Markets, it has been proposed that all consumers should be able to see on their energy bills a listing of the sources of their electricity. It has also been proposed to limit the ability of nuclear power companies to use their decommissioning funds as investment capital. Both proposals are strongly supported by INFORSE-Europe and other NGOs. It will be exciting to see whether we manage to have the proposals included in the final decision in November.

Information: http://www.climnet.org