News & events

Summary:

Biofuels for transport are part of important strategies to improve fuel security, mitigate climate change and support rural development. In 2010 some 84 millions tonnes of conventional biofuels based on crops containing starch, sugar or vegetable oil were delivered, that represents some 104 billion litres of fuels that address 2.7% of the global demand for transportation fuels.
Conventional biofuel production not only delivers ethanol and biodiesel but also protein feed, with the quantities of these both being produced on a similar scale. In 2010, the protein production associated with conventional biofuels based on corn, cereals, canola and soybeans delivered 79 million tonnes of protein feed corresponding to the protein production of 29 million ha soybeans, that is more than a quarter of the global demand for soybean cake. Hence, conventional biofuel production chains are a vital part of both global fuel and protein supplies.
Advanced biofuels based on cellulosic feedstocks, various waste streams and algae have a large potential in the future. However, some of these are in early commercial phase in the market at present but most of these new technologies re-‐ main in a pre-‐commercial phase. Investors need reliable long‐term framework conditions to be created by governments to offset the huge capital expenditures required to start large-‐scale production and to offset the initially high production cost of these new fuels.
In order to achieve compliance with emission targets set to slow global warming and to improve the security of energy supply, an increased contribution from both conventional and advanced biofuels will be needed in the coming years. The protein production has to be seen as an important part of the social, economic and environmental aspects of the biofuel industry.
Many studies have shown there is enough land available to produce more food, more feed and more biofuels. However, the available land has to be used in a better way. In recent years more than 200 Mha land has been set aside around the globe and not used at all! Therefore a priority for all governments and international organizations must be to improve agricultural and forestry production methods worldwide in a sustainable and socially acceptable way.
In addition, conventional biofuel production could become part of a global strategy to compensate for the strong variations of harvests coming along with climate change.



To Download the 'Biofuels for Transport' fact sheet click here

Please note that this is a short version of the full fact sheet which is only available to WBA members. To become a WBA member, or to request information about membership please feel free to contact us.


For more information, please contact:
- Heinz Kopetz, President WBA email: hg.kopetz@netway.at, tfn +436506806988
- Karin Haara, Executive Director WBA email: karin.haara@worldbioenergy.org, tfn +46705432641
- Andrew Potter, Communications Director, WBA email:andrew.potter@worldbioenergy.org, tfn +442077136028