Several best choices for future biofuels

One of the EU climate targets is a 10% share of renewables in the transport sector in 2020, calling for altenative fuels to replace fossil fuels. But as one alternative fits a certain location and for a certain purpose, it might not be the answer elsewhere or for other purposes. The problem is complex and demands a variety of possible solutions.

– We can’t decide upon one single fuel and never invest in anything but that. We have to develop several fuel solutions, and assure ourselves that there is a need for all of them, both from a distribution system and user point of view. For example, you can’t say that ethanol is bad and electricity is good. It all comes down to how and where they are produced, and how and where they are used.

These are the words of Pål Börjesson, Professor at Environmental and Energy Systems Studies at Lund University, one of the authors of the report Sustainable transportation biofuels today and in the future produced by f3. The report  was delivered within an assignment from the Swedish Government Committee reviewing “Fossilfrihet på väg” (Fossil independency on the way, SOU 2013:84) that will be finished in October 2013. The f3 report will then be a part of the background material for the final report.