Biocarburants avancés : séparer le bon grain de l’ivraie

Infographie : François Descheemaekere

[Euractiv]

Les biocarburants seront le premier contributeur à l’objectif européen de faire passer à 10 % la part de carburant issu d’énergies renouvelables dans les transports. Les consommateurs à la pompe à essence qui ont toujours des doutes quant aux avantages écologiques des biocarburants peuvent toutefois être excusés.

Initially hailed as a solution to soaring roadside carbon dioxide emissions – which rose by 26% between 1990 and 2008 – headlines have recently turned to the damage that feedstock-based fuel crops such as biodiesel might have on the planet’s climate. This is because of indirect land use change (ILUC) that happens when arable land taken to grow fuel crops is then compensated for by clearing forests, wetlands and other natural habitats elsewhere in the world to grow the missing food.
Futuristic biofuels made from the residues of agricultural products or algae do not compete with food production and have a “crucial role” to play in mitigating carbon dioxide emissions, a new report says. But even so, it cautions that care and more EU funding are needed to ensure that exploiting them does not have unintended consequences.
Lire : euractiv.com