The sugar in fruit such as apples and oranges can be converted into a new type of low carbon fuel for cars, according to US scientists. The fuel, made from fructose, contains far more energy than ethanol. Critics say that the current biofuels, both diesel made from palm oil and ethanol made from corn, encourage … Read More
Biofuels
China: Oil Giants Look to Biofuels
China’s oil giants are currently vying for a leading position in the development of bio-fuels. China’s National Offshore Oil Corporation – the country’s third largest oil company, will strengthen its alternative energy development activities by establishing a bio-diesel refining facility in southern China’s island province of Hainan by the end of the year.
OPEC Warns West on Biofuels
Opec has warned western countries that their efforts to develop biofuels as an alternative energy source to combat climate change risks driving the price of oil “through the roof”. Abdalla El-Badri, secretary-general of OPEC, said it was considering cutting its investment in new oil production in response to moves by the developed world to use … Read More
The Dark Side of Biofuels
The Guardian reports this morning that armed groups in Colombia are driving peasants off their land to make way for plantations of the biofuel, palm oil. Surging demand for palm oil has prompted rightwing paramilitaries to seize swaths of territory, according to activists and farmers. Thousands of families are believed to have fled a campaign … Read More
Brazil Rejects Bush Move on Climate
Another person attending the G8 summit is Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. In an interesting political move, he has flatly rejected President Bush’s proposals for parallel global negotiations to combat climate change, insisting that countries come to agreement at the United Nations, and not under US leadership. “The Brazilian position is clear cut,” … Read More
UN: The Downside of Biofuels
The UN has joined the growing number of voices issuing concern over biofuels. In the most comprehensive survey yet completed of energy crops, it argues that the global rush to produce energy crops threatens to bring food shortages, increase poverty and drive deforestation, pushing small farmers off the land.
McCain Warns of Vulnerability of Foreign Oil
In the third of three major policy addresses, Republican presidential candidate, John McCain has talked about the “great and urgent challenge – breaking our nation’s critical dependence on foreign sources of oil”. In a speech to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) McCain warned that America’s “dependency on foreign oil and the way … Read More
Palm Oil: A Disaster Biofuel
Concerned about the planet? Thinking of running your car on biofuel? Well think again.. Within 15 years 98% of the rainforests of Indonesia and Malaysia will be gone, as they are torn down in the rush to boost palm oil production for biofuels. With them will disappear some of the world’s most important wildlife species. … Read More
Biofuels Increase Food Prices
The debate over biofuels is set to become one of the most defining issues of our times. Put simply it will be a battle between the people being able to drive and those being able to eat. Of course it’s not that simple, but the warning signs are there already. Because the demand for biofuels … Read More
US Carmakers Ask for Help
US carmakers have said told a House of Representatives subcommittee that the industry alone could not act on climate change. The heads of the big three – General Motors, Chrysler and Ford – Â said that measures to improve fuel efficiency were not enough and may cost thousands of jobs.