Introduction
In 2004, the transport sector was responsible for around 27 per cent of total UK carbon dioxide emissions. Carbon dioxide emissions from transport from the EU countries have risen by an average of two per cent per year over the past decade.
The UK transport industries were responsible for emitting the equivalent of 86 million tonnes of carbon dioxide in 2002 compared with 88.3 million tonnes in 2000, and 58.5 million tonnes in 1990. Greenhouse gas emissions from UK households' private vehicles rose from 59.2 million tonnes in 1990 to 62.8 million tonnes in 2002 - a six percent increase.
In order to meet UK carbon-reduction targets it is therefore vital that we tackle the transport issues. Biofuels and fuel-cell vehicles offer a significant opportunity to reduce emissions from transport, while still offering the flexibility of both private and public transport options.
South west focus
Biofuels offer an excellent opportunity for the region to produce some of its own fuel. All south west fuel is currently imported from refineries outside the region.
The Somerset Biofuels Project is a partnership between Somerset County Council, Ford Motor Company, Wessex Water, Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Wessex Grain. It will establish a local fuel distribution network of five forecourt pumps for the supply of E85, which is an 85 per cent (v/v) ethanol/petrol mixture. Blending, storage and distribution of the fuel will be managed by Wessex Biofuels. Ford will make available 40 Ford Focus Flexible Fuelled Vehicles, engineered to run on any mixture from pure petrol up to 85 per cent ethanol content.
Wessex Grain proposes to build a plant in Somerset that will produce 100,000 tonnes of bioethanol per annum. The project will use state-of-the-art enzyme and fermentation technology to convert about 330,000 tonnes of cereals into three co-products: bioethanol, high-protein cattle feed and CO2 for industrial markets. Wessex Grain also founded a new company Green Spirit Fuels Ltd to develop a biorefinery, which will forge ahead when the Government has made the economic climate more attractive for biofuels production in this country. Outline planning consent has already been granted for a plant and the Company is now preparing its submission for full planning permission.
Esterco Biofuel Ltd in Cornwall manufactures and supplies biodiesel and continues to develop technology and production facilities for the production of biodiesel from waste oils. Esterco has completed a feasibility study for the South West on the economics of a biodiesel manufacturing plant (or plants) taking in used vegetable oil, much of which is currently poured down the drain or used for animal feed.
