Briefing

EU biodiesel market briefing

May 30, 2016

This briefing details the feedstock used in biodiesel in Europe between 2010 and 2014. It is based on official industry data from Fediol obtained by T&E. The analysis shows that all of the 34% growth in EU biodiesel since 2010 comes from imported palm oil. The expansion of these plantations into natural rainforest is both having a devastating impact on biodiversity and causing net greenhouse gas emissions, to the effect that palm oil biodiesel is three times worse for the climate than fossil diesel.

In 2010, just 8% of palm oil used in Europe was for biodiesel, a share which grew to 45% in 2014. A further 15% of palm oil was burned for heat and power. Other uses of palm oil, such as for food and cosmetics, have actually declined by one-third in these four years. On average biodiesel is now 80% worse for the climate than fossil diesel, up from 40% in 2010. All forms of support for first-generation biofuels needs to end in 2020.

Related Articles

View All
Letter

Businesses call for investment in the German rail

European business travellers call for German rail investment

Europe-wide alliance of business travellers wants a German rail infrastructure fund, lower track access charges and expansion of the rail network

Gap to produce sufficient numbers of EVs to comply with the law in 2020
Letter

Aviation: International scientists warn of warming impact of contrails and risks of delaying action

A coalition of leading aviation and climate scientists come together in the closing days of the COP29 conference in Azerbaijan to call for more action...

Report

How much does LNG emit before it burns on a ship?

Fossil gas is almost as bad as the dirty fuels it is trying to replace