‘Failed experiment’: Experts question the real effectiveness of biofuels

Biofuels are seen as a solution to Europe’s dwindling oil supply, as the war with Iran continues to drive up prices.

European Commissioner Dan Jørgensen urged countries to provide measures to reduce the use of oil and gas, especially in transport. It comes after ministers met on Tuesday (March 31) to address a global shortage of 11 million barrels of oil a day.

Much fear surrounds the successful closure of the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s largest oil fields – which transports a fifth of the world’s oil supply. About 20 percent of diesel used in the EU and the UK comes from the Gulf region, according to commodity trading company Alkagesta.

In a letter seen by Euronews, the EU has been advised to consider biofuels as an alternative to fossil fuels, an idea that has been on the rise since the Middle East conflict began.

What are biofuels?

Biofuel goals predate the US-Israel war against Iran. Under the revised Renewable Energy Directive, EU countries must reach 29 percent of renewable energy for transport by 2030, including a renewable hydrogen and advanced biofuel target of 5.5 percent.

Biofuels are made from plant material, and are classified according to their source.

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

Using plants (aka biomass) as fuel still releases CO2 into the atmosphere, but many biofuel companies claim this is the same level of CO2 that was taken out of the atmosphere by growing crops.

While biodiesel (made from vegetable oil) can go straight into your car, bioethanol, made by boiling sugar and wheat, cannot be used without changing the engine first.

Can biofuels replace fossil fuels?

A recent study by the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT) declares that Europe has enough renewable resources to run electricity without fossil fuels for a long time.

“If we use residual and waste materials in an optimal way, we can make road traffic less dependent on foreign energy while reducing CO₂ emissions,” says Professor Thomas Hirth of KIT.

The report, which was commissioned by BMW AG (which has long advocated the use of biofuels) found that “very large amounts” of residues and waste can be used to produce fuels, such as grass from agriculture, wood chips from forests and natural waste.

It also identified energy crops that grow on low-yielding soils and are not competitive with food production as potential sources of biofuel.

Professor Tomas Kock of KIT’s Institute of Internal Combustion Engines (IFKM) said:

But that can only be successful if the production of advanced biofuels is prioritized by governments and the public.

However, climate experts doubt that this will work. Lucien Mathiew, director of vehicles for Transport and the Environment, tells Euronews Earth that e-fuels are at best a “niche solution” in the transport sector, arguing that the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is a more logical step.

“In EVs we have a clean, efficient technology that is cheap enough for the mass market,” Mathiew explains.

“European policymakers should focus on industrial policies to supply battery factories, maintain supply of critical materials and build an EV industry that can compete with China globally.”

Why is biofuel so controversial?

Biofuels are often seen as a silver bullet to rid the world of fossil fuels, but they come with many drawbacks.

Most biofuels are made from staple crops like corn and soybeans, which can lead farmers to prioritize growing fuel over food. This could raise global food prices and deepen food insecurity, especially in low-income countries.

Last year, a study carried out in Congo found that the EU’s biofuel project was 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, Europe is outpacing Ireland in biofuel crops. This land can be used to feed 120 million people, or it can absorb twice as much CO2 if it is returned to nature.

Using an area equal to only 2.5 percent of this land for solar equipment, on the other hand, would produce the same amount of energy – the report found.

That’s why some climate experts describe biofuel energy as a “failed experiment”, and instead prefer to focus on the transition to clean energy with wind and solar.

“Right now we’re giving up a lot of land for crops that we just burn in our cars,” says Maik Marahrens, T&E’s director of biofuels.

This land can feed millions of people or, if returned to nature, provide biodiversity-rich carbon deposits.

Although biofuels are considered renewable in theory, growing crops such as sugarcane, soybeans and corn for energy is also linked to deforestation in important areas such as the Amazon rainforest.

This raises the question of whether biofuels are carbon neutral, as growing, harvesting and processing these crops requires a lot of energy (often from fossil fuels).