BIOFUELS FOR TRANSPORTATION
Biofuels - ethanol,
sugar cane
In 2005, Brazil produced 16.5
billion litres of fuel ethanol
(45.2 per cent of the world's
total) with the United States a close second at 16.2 billion
litres, or 44.5 per cent of the
total. Ethanol provides roughly
40 per cent of Brazil's nondiesel
fuel and 2-3 per cent of
U.S. non-diesel fuel.
Sugar cane is the most
important crop for producing
biofuels today and the
feedstock for more than 40
per cent of all fuel ethanol.
Corn ranks a close second:
the primary source for biofuel
production in the U.S., it
supplies nearly the same share
of world fuel ethanol as sugar
cane.
Biodiesel, produced mainly
from rapeseed or sunflower
seed, comprises 80 per cent of
Europe's total biofuel
production. The EU accounted
for nearly 89 per cent of all
biodiesel production worldwide
in 2005. Germany produced
1.9 billion litres, or more than
half the world total.
Global ethanol production
more than doubled between
2000 and 2005, while
production of biodiesel,
starting from a much smaller
base, expanded nearly
fourfold. In contrast, oil
production increased by only 7
per cent over this period.
In 2005, ethanol comprised
about 1.2 per cent of the
world's gasoline supply by
volume and about 0.8 per cent
by transport distance traveled
(due to its lower energy
content).
World oil demand
From 2002-04, world oil
demand increased by 5.3 per
cent. China's consumption
alone increased by 26.4 per
cent, while consumption in the
United States rose by 4.9 per
cent; Canada 10.2 per cent;
and the United Kingdom 6.3
per cent. Demand in Germany
and Japan, meanwhile,
dropped by 1 per cent and 2.6
per cent respectively.
Of the world's 47 poorest
countries, 38 are net oil
importers, and 25 of these
import all of their oil. Yet many
of these countries have
substantial agricultural bases
and are well-positioned to
grow highly productive energy
crops.
Roughly 80 per cent of the
world's conventional oil
reserves are under state
control and off limits to
private investment.
Biofuel industry and the
environment
