Carbon Trust responding to the Gallagher Report on biofuels 

“We welcome the report by Professor Gallagher on biofuels and we agree with the overall conclusion that a sustainable biofuels industry has an important role to play in a global low carbon economy.  The increased use of biofuels will also be essential if we are to meet the UK’s carbon reduction targets.  Although we recognise the contribution that improved vehicle efficiency and electric mobility can make to reducing carbon emissions from transport, we believe that biofuels offer the only way to provide renewable solutions for existing vehicles designs and potentially shipping and aviation.

However, the Carbon Trust recognises that some so-called ‘first generation’ biofuels save little or no carbon and may have damaging environmental and economic impacts.  Such fuels should not be used if they lead to increased damage to the environment, even if these may contribute to security of supply.  

The Government has made efforts to ensure that the carbon-saving and sustainability of fuels to be included in the RTFO are reported, with the expectation that legally enforceable standards will soon follow.  The Government must now redouble its efforts to develop and implement carbon-saving and sustainability standards for the RTFO that consider land use change effects.  UK policy makes also have the opportunity to take a lead in the development of international biofuel standards.

We would only support a moratorium on support for biofuels if analysis of current supply chains serving the UK (including an assessment of land use change effects) suggests that the current RTFO level of 2.5% cannot be delivered from sustainable sources of supply.  We agree with Professor Gallagher that a freeze on support would retard investment to UK developers of ‘second generation’ alternatives.  This could allow other countries, notably the US, to take the lead in development of these technologies, which we would then need to import with little UK economic benefit.

We agree strongly with Professor Gallagher that specific action must be taken to stimulate advanced technology.  The Carbon Trust has already identified two technology areas where the UK can take a world-leading position in genuinely sustainable biofuel supply chains: pyrolysis to transport fuels; and biofuels from algae.  These technologies are both endorsed by the report, and the Carbon Trust is already significantly engaged with the UK scientific community to accelerate their development.  Through the Pyrolysis Challenge and the Algae Fuels Initiative we are seeking options to invest £5m-£15m in world class research, development and demonstration and hope to significantly accelerate the time to market of these exciting ‘second generation’ technologies.”

Dr Robert Trezona
Head of Research and Development
Carbon Trust