Biofuels
Biofuels begin as ‘biomass’ such as crops, wood or other living matter. Biomass is a renewable resource that has the potential to supply a limited portion of the world’s energy needs. The road transport sector is already using biofuels, and there will soon be biofuel substitutes for railway and aircraft fuels.
The biofuels industry contributes to rural economies and helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, large-scale biomass cultivation could take land away from food production and drive up food prices. It might also lead to the clearing of forests and other land with a high carbon content, which could result in an overall increase in greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come.
IPIECA focuses on promoting sustainability throughout the biofuels supply chain. By evaluating Chain of Custody (CoC) systems, IPIECA ensures the sustainability credentials of the final product at the fuel pump. IPIECA has produced two guides that provide an introduction to biofuels and CoC systems.
- Biofuels, sustainability and the petroleum industry
- Chain of custody options for sustainable biofuels
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Developing standards on biofuels sustainability
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Developing a third-party certification system for biofuels sustainability
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Releasing more carbon emissions due to the expansion of croplands for biofuels production
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Sustainability standards
The international oil industry recognizes that for biofuels to play a significant role in meeting future energy demand, they must be produced sustainably. IPIECA therefore supports development of standards on biofuels sustainability, and hence is looking forward to working with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in developing a global standard on biofuels sustainability.
IPIECA members support the development, ultimate adoption and government enforcement of an internationally recognized, transparent and accepted certification scheme, such as that presently under development by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB). Such a scheme should, at a minimum, include a complete assessment of the greenhouse gas footprint of biofuels, an assurance on food competition and availability, and an assessment of the environmental and social issues associated with their production. For more information on the RSB and IPIECA's involvement please see the section below.
In order for any biofuels sustainability certification mechanism to be implementable and successful, schemes should ensure the following issues are adequately addressed:
- The indicators to be used should be measurable, verifiable, and relevant.
- A process and detailed GHG calculation methodology should be in place for new and existing biofuels production operations.
- A realistic and practical methodology for accounting of land use, in order to assess the impact of direct and indirect land use change, should be in place. Biodiversity of land use and cultivation practices should be considered.
- All other criteria should be prioritised according to specific relevance to biofuels rather than to agriculture in general.
Only through this process can biofuel systems be properly assessed for their sustainability credentials.
Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels
The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) is an international initiative co-ordinated by the Energy Center at the Swiss Federal Polytechnic in Lausanne, Switzerland. It brings together farmers, companies, non-governmental organizations, experts, governments, and inter-governmental agencies concerned with ensuring the sustainability of biofuels production and processing.
The RSB is developing a third-party certification system for biofuels sustainability standards, encompassing environmental, social and economic principles and criteria, through an open, transparent, and multi-stakeholder process. IPIECA remains closely involved in this process, co-chairing the implementation Working Group and participating on the Verification Expert Panel. IPIECA hopes to facilitate improved communication between the ISO, RSB and the European Standards Organization (CEN), with the goal of creating one certifiable global standard.
Indirect land use change
The indirect land use change (ILUC) impacts of biofuels relates to the unintended consequence of releasing more carbon emissions due to the expansion of croplands for ethanol or biodiesel production in response to the increased global demand for biofuels.
IPIECA worked with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels (RSB) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to hold a two-day workshop on ILUC in Lausanne, Switzerland in November 2009. Over 80 delegates from around the globe attended, including biofuel growers, producers and blenders, scientists, regulators and IPIECA member companies. The workshop focused on greenhouse gases, examining the state of the science and how it is being translated into policy and regulation. The workshop provided a unique opportunity to understand the status of the debate, and enabled key stakeholders to interact with the United Nations, regulators, NGOs, the fuels industry and the RSB. It concluded that ILUC could be an important aspect of sustainable biofuel production.
Categories:
- Operations and fuels
