In The News

Study Questions Carbon Footprint of Biodiesel

A European Union document recently released to Reuters found that the emissions generated by biodiesel can be up to four times greater than diesel or petrol. The study was not made public until Reuters used freedom of information rights.

According to reports by Reuters, the EU has found that burning forests to clear land results in carbon dioxide emissions that cancel out the benefits of biofuels.

The document says biodiesel made from soybeans can indirectly produce 339.9 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions per gigajoule, Reuters reports. This is four times the amount of emissions of standard diesel, the report said.

While standard diesel or gasoline creates around 85 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, biodiesel from European rapeseed produces about 150.3 kilograms per gigajoule, according to the Reuters article.

A scientist involved with the research indicated that additional work needs to be done and that no final conclusions could be made on biofuel and its environmental impact, Reuters reports.

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