‘Step change’ in research intensity needed to meet biofuel targets: Commission

‘Europe can only achieve its bioenergy and biofuel targets with a step-change in research intensity investment and effective technology transfer,’ said Christian Patermann, Director of Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Research at the European Commission’s Research Directorate-General.

Europe has already taken some steps to move over to biofuels. Its biodiesel production has grown from 55,000 tonnes in 1992 to more than three million tonnes in 2005, while bio-ethanol has witnessed an increase from 47,500 tonnes produced in 1993 to over 700,000 tonnes in 2005. However, the overall production of liquid biofuels in the EU-25 is too low, standing at just two million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe), less than 1% of the market. Given this current market share, the EU policy target of reaching18 Mtoe of biofuels in the transport sector by 2010 looks doubtful.
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