Hydrogen and electricity currently represent the great hope in the fight against the energy crisis and climate change, but Biodiesel & Co. is all too often forgotten – a mistake!
Supplement, not replace, that is currently the starting point of the domestic biofuel lobby. But also in this country the potential of biodiesel and bioethanol as a fuel substitute is enormous. In any case, the most recent energy policy decisions in the country show that, despite the true hype surrounding hydrogen and electric motors, energy from vegetable oil, old frying fat and the like can also form an important piece of the mobility puzzle.
The amendment to the Fuel Ordinance that came into force around the turn of the year includes the implementation of central requirements of the Platform for Sustainable Fuels (PEK), such as the introduction of E10. This refers to the addition of 10 percent ethanol to the volume of gasoline.
Prices for biofuels are developing only moderately
A step that is too late: “All petrol engines have been E10-compatible for more than ten years. However, new cars can already do twice as much. Unfortunately, when it comes to biodiesel, we are stuck at 7 percent, even though the French automakers are already touting the possibility of 30 percent biodiesel,” explains PEK board member Ewald-Marco Munzer. Public pressure is likely to increase because of prices at the pumps. Incidentally, the prices of biofuels have only developed moderately compared to conventional fuel variants.
In times of rising prices, this is a tempting proposition for all sectors of the economy: “If they say I’m going to tax fossil fuels, then there should be really good incentives to put more biofuel in the tank.”
The ecological benefit is obvious
“Especially in the transport sector – whether rail, shipping or passenger transport in rural areas – you can still turn a lot of screws,” says Munzer. The math pencils should shine with any tax benefits, so it is said.
In any case, the ecological benefit is obvious: According to initial calculations by the Austrian energy agency, the introduction of the E10 this year alone will save an additional 140,000 tons of CO2 per year in the transport sector. A good but late signal!
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
