Work
29.May 2006 - 00:00
Bioenergy
So far, the EU has calculated the impact of biofuels on carbon dioxide levels only at the point of end use, without taking any account of the emissions resulting from the production of the fuel.
This means that the picture of bioenergy and its relationship to climate protection is misleading and is giving rise to exaggerated expectations of biofuels as a solution to problems of energy demand and climate change. In a regrettably large number of cases, the reality is that emissions are merely shifted from one source to another. Within the EU, the CO2 effectiveness of bioenergy, especially energy from crops grown in the Nordic countries, is poor so far. According to some assessments it is even negative, especially in the case of ethanol, meaning that it takes more energy to produce a biofuel than is obtained by making it. Ethanol is not a wonder fuel, as it too increases emissions of many other compounds, such as aldehydes, into the air. Its resistance to cold is also poor while its fuel value is low: vehicles' fuel consumption virtually doubles.
Production of bioenergy by means of intensive farming would be likely to increase the use of fertilisers produced using fossil resources. Waters and soil should not be endangered by using more fertiliser than is required for purposes of food production.
There should be a change of approach to ensure that the whole life cycle of all biofuels is taken into account and that assessments are made independently, so that the eco-effectiveness of biofuels can be genuinely evaluated. What will the Commission do to produce more precise information?
E-1347/06EN
Answer given by Ms Fischer-Boel
on behalf of the Commission
(29.5.2006)
The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member on the necessity of evaluating the impact of biofuels on greenhouse gases emissions taking into account their complete production and use cycle, including the emissions from the cultivation of dedicated energy crops. The Commission is aware that biofuels are not carbon-neutral because, for instance, energy and fertilisers are used when the energy crops are grown. Within a life-cycle analysis the greenhouse gases released by energy and fertiliser use have to be counted too.
The actual figures for greenhouse gas emissions show a wide range of results depending on the feedstock crop used for biofuels production, how these crops are grown and the fate of by-products (e.g. animal feeds). The life-cycle analyses carried out so far consistently show that, compared with fossil fuels, the use of biofuels results in net reductions of carbon emissions . However, if under most production scenarios, the net greenhouse gas (GHG) effect of biofuels is overall positive, nothing definitive can be said about the average amount of carbon emissions savings, or about the ranking of the different biofuels.
As set out in its recent biomass action plan and biofuels strategy , the Commission aims at favouring the efficient use of crops for biofuels and will explore and, if appropriate, propose measures to ensure optimal greenhouse gas benefits from biofuels. Research is on-going at EU and national level to further improve the calculation methods of greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, a recent study “Well to-wheels” conducted by the Joint Research Centre with consultative support has calculated the GHG balance of several biofuels . The European Environmental Agency is also planning a study on energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) balances from different kinds of biomass.
Concerning the calorific power of biofuels, according to the information available to the Commission, bioethanol has only slightly lower energy content than fossil fuels.
As regards the potential negative environmental impact of energy crops for transport fuels, these are also acknowledged in the recent biomass action plan and biofuels strategy. However, the impacts can also be positive, as when crop rotations are improved. In certain regions at risk of marginalisation, energy crops can contribute to keeping agricultural land in production, which may help prevent floods and landslides, and improving the viability of farms located in high-nature value areas.
Cross compliance (mandatory environmental legislation and good agricultural and environmental condition) guarantees a land use and farm practice baseline in order to avoid potentially negative impacts of all kind of agricultural activity (including energy crops) on the environment. In addition, there is also the obligation to maintain the share of land under permanent pasture. The Commission will review the implementation of cross-compliance in 2007.
In 2006, the Commission will also conduct a review of the implementation of the biofuels Directive , in view of its possible revision. Among the issues that will be explored is whether incentives for biofuels should take into account the actual greenhouse gas benefits of the different biofuels and their production pathways. Consideration will also be given to the introduction of a system of certificates, whereby only biofuels whose cultivation complies with minimum sustainability standards will count towards the targets in the Directive.
So far, the EU has calculated the impact of biofuels on carbon dioxide levels only at the point of end use, without taking any account of the emissions resulting from the production of the fuel.
This means that the picture of bioenergy and its relationship to climate protection is misleading and is giving rise to exaggerated expectations of biofuels as a solution to problems of energy demand and climate change. In a regrettably large number of cases, the reality is that emissions are merely shifted from one source to another. Within the EU, the CO2 effectiveness of bioenergy, especially energy from crops grown in the Nordic countries, is poor so far. According to some assessments it is even negative, especially in the case of ethanol, meaning that it takes more energy to produce a biofuel than is obtained by making it. Ethanol is not a wonder fuel, as it too increases emissions of many other compounds, such as aldehydes, into the air. Its resistance to cold is also poor while its fuel value is low: vehicles' fuel consumption virtually doubles.
Production of bioenergy by means of intensive farming would be likely to increase the use of fertilisers produced using fossil resources. Waters and soil should not be endangered by using more fertiliser than is required for purposes of food production.
There should be a change of approach to ensure that the whole life cycle of all biofuels is taken into account and that assessments are made independently, so that the eco-effectiveness of biofuels can be genuinely evaluated. What will the Commission do to produce more precise information?
E-1347/06EN
Answer given by Ms Fischer-Boel
on behalf of the Commission
(29.5.2006)
The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member on the necessity of evaluating the impact of biofuels on greenhouse gases emissions taking into account their complete production and use cycle, including the emissions from the cultivation of dedicated energy crops. The Commission is aware that biofuels are not carbon-neutral because, for instance, energy and fertilisers are used when the energy crops are grown. Within a life-cycle analysis the greenhouse gases released by energy and fertiliser use have to be counted too.
The actual figures for greenhouse gas emissions show a wide range of results depending on the feedstock crop used for biofuels production, how these crops are grown and the fate of by-products (e.g. animal feeds). The life-cycle analyses carried out so far consistently show that, compared with fossil fuels, the use of biofuels results in net reductions of carbon emissions . However, if under most production scenarios, the net greenhouse gas (GHG) effect of biofuels is overall positive, nothing definitive can be said about the average amount of carbon emissions savings, or about the ranking of the different biofuels.
As set out in its recent biomass action plan and biofuels strategy , the Commission aims at favouring the efficient use of crops for biofuels and will explore and, if appropriate, propose measures to ensure optimal greenhouse gas benefits from biofuels. Research is on-going at EU and national level to further improve the calculation methods of greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, a recent study “Well to-wheels” conducted by the Joint Research Centre with consultative support has calculated the GHG balance of several biofuels . The European Environmental Agency is also planning a study on energy and carbon dioxide (CO2) balances from different kinds of biomass.
Concerning the calorific power of biofuels, according to the information available to the Commission, bioethanol has only slightly lower energy content than fossil fuels.
As regards the potential negative environmental impact of energy crops for transport fuels, these are also acknowledged in the recent biomass action plan and biofuels strategy. However, the impacts can also be positive, as when crop rotations are improved. In certain regions at risk of marginalisation, energy crops can contribute to keeping agricultural land in production, which may help prevent floods and landslides, and improving the viability of farms located in high-nature value areas.
Cross compliance (mandatory environmental legislation and good agricultural and environmental condition) guarantees a land use and farm practice baseline in order to avoid potentially negative impacts of all kind of agricultural activity (including energy crops) on the environment. In addition, there is also the obligation to maintain the share of land under permanent pasture. The Commission will review the implementation of cross-compliance in 2007.
In 2006, the Commission will also conduct a review of the implementation of the biofuels Directive , in view of its possible revision. Among the issues that will be explored is whether incentives for biofuels should take into account the actual greenhouse gas benefits of the different biofuels and their production pathways. Consideration will also be given to the introduction of a system of certificates, whereby only biofuels whose cultivation complies with minimum sustainability standards will count towards the targets in the Directive.