Bioenergy

Bioenergy
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Bioenergy - fuel for the future?

Corn bunting perching in oilseed rape

Bioenergy is energy derived from biological matter, known as biomass, including conventional arable crops, tropical commodity crops, dedicated energy crops such as short-rotation willow coppice and Miscanthus ('elephant grass'), forestry products, and organic waste.

This energy can be in the form of electricity, heat, or liquid fuels for vehicles – known as biodiesel and bioethanol, which are used in the place of petrol and diesel respectively and collectively referred to as biofuels. Because they are derived from either waste products or biological material that is then re-grown, they are claimed to be ‘carbon neutral’.

'Producing for bioenergy will require considerable changes in land-use, both in the EU and overseas where biofuels may be sourced for import'

In reality, this is not the case. Greenhouse gas savings can be far from 100%, with an increasing amount of research into the greenhouse gas emissions from the entire life cycle of some biofuels even finding an increase in emissions compared to  conventional fossil fuels.

Changing land use

Furthermore, producing for bioenergy will require considerable changes in land-use, both in the EU and overseas where fuels or feedstock for converting into energy may be sourced for import.

In some instances, this may present some opportunities for biodiversity, through, for example, bringing important semi-natural habitats such as woodlands and reedbeds into management in order to create biomass for small-scale heat and power generation.

However, there are also very serious risks, including the loss of important habitats for wildlife or even, in the case of some biofuels, an increase in net greenhouse gas emissions compared to their fossil fuel equivalents.

Managing the risk

These changes in land-use must therefore be carefully managed to avoid the risks and exploit the opportunities, if bioenergy is be sustainable and if it is to play a role in the fight against climate change. This means developing it at an appropriate scale and speed, based on robust strategic planning at a UK, EU and global level, which takes account of a thorough and ongoing analysis of the science and evidence of the impacts of bioenergy in all its forms.

Last modified: 25 February 2008

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A Cool Approach To Biofuels (533Kb)
The RSPB fully recognises the urgent need to tackle climate change, but we need solutions that work. The RSPB is advocating a cool, measured approach to biofuels.