How much of an impact can biofuels play in the battle against harmful emissions – a new study for the UK’s LowCVP Transport & Travel Research Ltd has examined the possibilities.
The report looks at the opportunities for increased use of high-blend biofuels at blends greater than 10 per cent by volume in the UK and has found that the potential carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction across vehicle classes can range from 1.5 to 5.5MtCO2 – that’s up to about four per cent of total UK road transport emissions.
The study examined a total of 72 vehicle-fuel combinations and for each type of vehicle considered the impact of different vehicle/fuel options based on estimated numbers of vehicles in each class for which switching to high-blend biofuel operation is possible in the medium-term. It reviewed the impact of 13 different fuels: Euro V diesel; Euro V gasoline; biodiesel B5; biodiesel B30; biodiesel B50; biodiesel B100; biodiesel E5; biodiesel E85; biomethane (compressed); biomethane (liquefied); pure plant oil; biomass to liquids; and hydrogenated vegetable oil. It looked at vehicles in eight classes including cars, light goods vehicles, buses and HGVs.
Among the report’s conclusions was a note that HGVs and MGVs operated on the basis of depot fuelling achieved significant greenhouse gas emission reductions thanks to the adoption of B100, PPO and biomethane.
Based on practicality it stated that the UK should strongly consider bioethanol followed by biodiesel for high-blend biofuel use in cars although it should be noted that there are a number of barriers to this being achieved.
Among the barriers identified in the report were political commitment and support; fuel production, distribution and supply; sustainability and standardisation; availability of vehicles; and sustainability and public perception.
