What Is The Current Position of Biofuels In Europe - Term Paper Example

What Is The Position of Biofuels In Europe Currently? Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 3 The Reason for Development of Biofuel in Europe 3 Second Generation of Biofuels & its Benefits to Europe 4 Usefulness of Biotechnology as an Essential Technology to Produce Biofuel 6 Assessment of the Current Position of Biofuels in Europe 7 Conclusion 9 References 10 Bibliography 11 Introduction The requirement of biofuels has been witnessing an increase owing to its use with regard to the transport segment as a reaction to the issue of energy security as well as concerns regarding climate alterations. The rising consciousness with regard to the environmental problems have augmented the degree of emphasis on the production of biofuels and promoting it to be a fresh energy source. It needs to be mentioned in this context that Europe has been identified to be amongst the leading producers of biodiesel. This particular form of fuel was found to symbolise a major portion of the biofuels market in Europe (The European Association for Bioindustries, 2007). Europe has been found to further encourage the usage as well as production related to the biofuels with the help of numerous strategies accompanied with many action plans. The Reason for Development of Biofuel in Europe The prices associated with oil which appeared to scale escalating heights of volatility along with the climatic alterations was turning out to be the grave problems which needed immediate attention and solution both nationally as well as internationally. The ‘Kyoto Protocol’ which was developed by Japan made it mandatory for the member countries included in the European Union (EU) to bring down the level of greenhouse gas releases by 8 percent. This made the EU focus on the aspect of biofuel production (Gross & et. al., 2003). The production in relation to the biofuel was found to experience a sharp increase in Europe in the last few years owing to the need of trimming down releases of greenhouse gases. It was stated by Hammond & et. al. (2008) that the transport segment of Europe involved the major emission rates. It was further mentioned in this regard that spreading and enhancing the protection related to fuel supply was proficient of being attained by bringing down the immense dependency of transport on the fossil fuels (Hammond & et. al., 2008). The increase in the production was attributed to the development and application of the different policies that were undertaken and implemented by the European Union (EU). The EU had indulged in developing an assortment of directives for the reason of encouraging the European market related to biofuel. The EU was found to be aggressively engaged in structuring guiding principles which would aid in supporting and prompting in the market of Europe the usage of biofuel (European Commission, 2006). Therefore, the need for the production of biofuel in Europe was identified from the ‘Kyoto Protocol’. This made Europe embark on certain policies which were considered to prove encouraging for the production of biofuel. Second Generation of Biofuels & its Benefits to Europe The EU Commission was found to recommend in the beginning of 2007 an overall strategic aim which focused on restricting the boost in the international average temperature. This proposed plan was mentioned to be accomplished with the help of certain strategies. The definite set of strategies entailed the practice with regard to renewable energy to 20 percent in the year 2020, bringing down the degree of greenhouse gas releases by 20 percent and reduction in the consumption of energy by 20 percent. The most important strategy on which the proposed plan was based was mentioned to be the increase of biofuels by 10 percent by the year 2020. It becomes necessary to mention in this regard that the 10 percent increase of biofuels even entailed a net boost by 120, 000 in the field of employment which further entails the increase in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of EU by 0.17 percent. These objectives were made based on the supposition that the entire production of biofuels would be done domestically with the assistance of European feedstock (The European Association for Bioindustries, 2007). The chief purpose of the EU Commission identified in the suggested plan was to encourage the growth of the ‘second generation’ biofuels. This form of biofuel was observed to be produced from ‘woody’ or lingo-cellulosic raw materials. These raw materials included timber, manure, straw and even woodchips. It was stated in this regard that these form of raw materials were recognised to be more approving and constructive compared to the present way of producing biofuels which was done from crops like rapeseed and sugar beet. The current way of producing biofuels in Europe has been referred to as the “first generation” and the way of producing biofuels suggested in the proposed plan by the EU Commission has been referred to as the “second generation”. The “second generation” of biofuels were preferred owing to the lesser degree of expenses associated with the required raw materials. The “second generation” was also given preference over the previous one owing to the positive greenhouse gas (GHG) equilibrium, superior fuel quality and also owing to their degree of energy output. The competence with regard to the “second generation” of biofuels to put to use a broader variety of raw resources implies lesser degree of struggle in relation to the production of foods. However, it needs to be stated in this context that the technology associated with the “second generation” still remains at the initial stage of development and thus calls for the requirement of political encouragement along with intensive investment (The European Association for Bioindustries, 2007). Therefore, it could be inferred that Europe needs to focus on the production of biofuels for trimming down the level of greenhouse gas discharges along with controlling the climatic alterations owing to the releases of carbon dioxide. However, it also needs to alter its procedure of production along with the entailed raw materials. This implies that the EU needs to undertake appropriate actions in order to support and facilitate the production of “second generation” biofuels. Usefulness of Biotechnology as an Essential Technology to Produce Biofuel A boost in the present accessible biomass was identified in Europe for the reason of attaining the ambitious objectives ascertained by the EU which was to increase the production as well as utilisation of the biofuel. The production of the determined level of biofuel was believed to be made possible to certain extent with the help of farming of energy crops on reserve lands. However, to attain the desired level of production the land output of biomass was also required to be augmented along with the enhancing the underlying quality of the crops. The attainment of the mentioned factors was found to be possible with the help of plant science or biotechnology accompanied with high-tech functions related to crop protection (International Energy Agency, 2011). The other significant endeavour in order to raise the level of biofuel production was considered to be the aggressive creation of biofuels with the help of organic as well as cellulose form of agricultural wastes rather than with the help of starch, sugar and oils. The production of biofuels from the mentioned sources would entail the innovation related to industrial biotechnology along with plant science as well. This implies the particular requirement degrading enzymes of the cellulose with the aid of enhanced competence (Durant & et. al., 1998). It was stated by Zinoviev & et. al.(2007) and Murphy (2011) that biotechnology was regarded to be the amongst the most effectual as well as innovative implementation in relation to the present times with the help of which the intentions with regard to the biofuel application and production could be achieved in Europe. Biotechnology was identified to be the required technology for the production of “second generation” biofuels but it also entails huge investments for the reason of its development. Therefore, Europe is required to take necessary steps to attract investments. Assessment of the Current Position of Biofuels in Europe The biotech industry of Europe was observed to display strong encouragement towards the endeavours undertaken by the EU for the reason of heightening the usage or the application of biofuels. The industry also takes into concern the anxiety with regard to the European leaders in relation to the augmented consumption of energy sourced with the help of fossil resources which is considered to be unsustainable in the future days. The problems posed due to the rising carbon dioxide releases, escalating reliance on imports, climate alterations and the increased prices of energy send apparent indications regarding the fact that Europe requires to take immediate measures to produce sustainable, competitive and secure forms of energy (Carriquiry & et. al., 2010). It is further believed by the industry that biotechnology is thought to contribute to a great extent in making certain of a form of energy supply especially in the segment of transportation which would not be reliant on oil and which would also help to significantly bring down the degree of carbon dioxide releases. The most significant benefit associated with the biofuels have been stated to be the competence of being combined with the accessible transport fuels along with being compatible with the present vehicles (Carriquiry & et. al., 2010). The various evaluations made regarding the vehicles point out towards the fact that the usage of biofuels in the vehicles proves to be certainly beneficial in relation to the releases of greenhouse gases in comparison to the automotive fuels that are based on petroleum. It is also believed by the biotech industry of Europe that the “second generation” of biofuels possesses the competence of acting as an effectual and striking replacement in relation to the fossil fuels that are used for transportation. It has been regarded as an effective replacement owing to the positive economic as well as environmental reasons and owing to its probability of creating employment opportunities in the rural areas of Europe (The European Association for Bioindustries, 2007). The accomplishment of the ascertained target of 10 percent with regard to the production and usage of biofuels needs to be attained with the help of developing a broad and logical structure by the EU which would entail the pertinent policies. The EU also needs to undertake pragmatic measures for the reason of implementing the various policies. The production of “second generation” of biofuels has been identified to be beneficial for Europe but to attain this, the country would need to encourage investment with regard to the relevant technologies. Europe also needs to ensure a suitable market for biofuels with proper distribution as well as infrastructure for facilitating the production of “second generation” biofuels. Conclusion From the above discussion, the need of producing biofuels in Europe could be evidently identified. It could be inferred from the above made discussion that the usage of biofuels would not only bring down the degree of greenhouse gas discharges but the process of creating “second generation” biofuels would also give rise to employment opportunities in Europe as well. However, Europe needs to undertake immediate steps for the reason of triggering the production of “second generation” biofuels as it is still stated to be in the initial stage of development. References Carriquiry, M. A. & et. al., 2010. Second-Generation Biofuels: Economics and Policies. The Policy Research Working Paper, pp. 1-55. Durant, J. & et. al., 1998. Biotechnology in the Public Sphere: A European Sourcebook. NMSI Trading Ltd. European Commission, 2006. Biofuels in the European Union: A Vision for 2030 and Beyond. Biofuels Research Advisory Council, pp. 1-32. Gross, R. & et. al., 2003. Progress in Renewable Energy. Environmental International, Vol. 29, pp. 105-122. Hammond, G. & et. al., 2008. Development of Biofuels for the UK Automotive Market. Applied Energy, Vol. 85, pp. 506-515. International Energy Agency, 2011. Technology Roadmap: Biofuels for Transport. The European Commission, pp.1-52. Murphy, D., 2011. Plants, Biotechnology and Agriculture. CABI. The European Association for Bioindustries, 2007. Biofuels in Europe. EuropaBio position and specific recommendations, pp. 1-8. Zinoviev, S. & et. al., 2007. Biofuel Production on Technologies. International Centre for Science and High Technology, pp. 1-106. Bibliography Collis, J. & Hussey, R., 2009. Business Research: A Practical Guide For Undergraduate & Postgraduate Students. Palgrave Macmillan. Read More