Reports / Publications for download

Shifting away from conventional biofuels:Sustainable alternatives for the use of biomass in the UK transport sector.
An IEEP discussion paper produced for ActionAid. Authors: Kretschmer, B, Allen, B, Kieve, D (2013).

Summary:
The UK has ample potential to use wastes and residues for advanced biofuels and create jobs in this emerging industry – but safeguards are key to ensure this is done in an environmentally sustainable way.

The sustainability of advanced biofuels in the EU: Assessing the sustainability of wastes, residues and other feedstocks set out in the European Commission’s proposal on Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC),
Authors: Kretschmer, B, Allen, B, Kieve, D, Smith, C (2013), Published by: Institute for European Environmental Policy(IEEP), London.

Summary:
Using wastes and residues for biofuels has many advantages. But ensuring sustainability and including safeguards in EU legislation are critical issues. This report focuses on the potential sustainability of an advanced biofuel industry relying on mainly wastes and residues as the feedstock base. Presented as a series of ‘factsheets’ we consider various feedstocks put forward by the Commission in its recent proposal to mitigate indirect land use change (ILUC). We summarise what they are and how they might be defined, the existing uses, risks of diverting from these uses, and any safeguards that may be required. This is offered as an information source particularly for those involved in the current policy debate on advanced biofuels.

Summary:
The aim of this MSc thesis was to assess the sustainability of alternative biofuels, suitable for Heavy Goods Vehicles in the UK. It also sought to determine which biofuels have the greatest potential to help the retail industry and the UK transport sector as a whole, achieve 2020 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
To achieve these aims, the constraints and opportunities involved in achieving emissions reductions for this vehicle category were examined, including the potential role for biofuels. A model to assess the greenhouse gas emission savings potential of the various alternative fuels was developed as well as an appropriate sustainability benchmarking tool to evaluate which of the fuels and production pathways under consideration best meet the key sustainability criteria.
It was found that biomethane was the most likely biofuel to contribute to sustainable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. However this would only be the case if an adequate supply of sustainable feedstock and adequate infrastructure could be assured.