Biofuels: The European Experience

INTRODUCTION The trend towards national use of biorenewable resources is progressing with ever increasing impetus, involving all aspects of industrial production from biolubricants to pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to energy crops. Rate of change is variable according to geographical location and strength of political support or underpinning for initiatives or concordats. Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) involves some but not all crops producing such products. In European Union (EU-15) a number of legislative papers have been or are in the process of enactment. Their development process in EU-15 involves European Commission (EC), in effect the civil service of EU-15, drafting Proposals which, if agreed, become binding Directives. Member states then undertake to enact these Directives within their national legislative frameworks. Bioenergy can be compartmentalized into heat and power units, which basically relate to electricity production and the liquid biofuels, for example bioethanol or biodiesel. Feedstocks vary but clearly primary emphasis needs to be given to economics and environment. Hence use of co-products (e.g. straw) gains enhanced significance, although new, specialist feedstocks from purpose-grown crops offer potential. In this latter instance the cultivation of short rotation coppice (SRC) using the willow (Salix spp.) has recently been rejuvenated. Selection of feedstocks may cause competition between different end users. Cereals or oilseeds both have end uses in the human food chain which are likely to have higher value than some of their potential non-food uses. Similarly there could be competition amongst end users within the non-food sector: wheat straw could be used for direct combustion, for paper making, or for bioethanol production. Two pieces of legislation are discussed to exemplify the position of biofuels in EU-15.