The controversy surrounding the use of biofuels (fuels derived from vegetable crops) gained extra ammunition last week when a report produced by British Members of Parliament (MPs) concluded that biofuels can ‘do more harm than good’ to the environment. It also said that it was misconception that biofuels were carbon neutral, because there was a failure to take into account the greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted during their production, such as nitrous oxide from fertilisers, and transport.
We also reported recently that higher soya prices were incrementing deforestation in the Amazon, thanks to the farm subsidies given by the American government to corn plantations used for biofuel. So, yes, it does seem that biofuels are not as green as they are cracked up to be. Continuous research and monitoring is necessary, but we must remember there’s several types of biofuels and some are better than others. Therefore demonizing or glorifying the whole category is not really the wise thing to do. We have to keep an open mind about this issue.
Meanwhile, the British Wind Association recently announced that in terms of offshore wind Britain is “well on the way to having 6,300MW of generating capacity in the water by 2015” and possibly 20,000MW by 2020, the “equivalent of 17% of UK supply”. The U.S. has also experienced an extraordinary growth in wind power, says the USA Today
So perhaps one of the answers to the challenge of generating clean power really is blowing in the wind, after all….
Have a great weekend!
Might I ask what biofuels have to do with wind? Wind is supposed to augment peak load, whilst biofuels are used for vehicles? Why discuss them together? We are not oil dependent for electricity.
That´s a good point, thank you.