Biofuels for Europe: Which Ones Fit Best? - A Comparative Analysis for the Community

摘要

Early comprehensive life cycle assessments (LCAs) that compared biofuels with fossil fuels appeared in the beginning of the nineties. Since then the number of assessed parameters has continuously increased and the methodology improved. One of the most extensive studies on this topic was completed in 2000. A large variety of ecological parameters was examined over the whole life cycles by using a unified methodical approach on a high level of differentiation. The results of this study allow an overall evaluation of the ecological advantages and disadvantages of the substitution of certain fossil fuels by biofuels in accordance with the methodological demands on LCAs. Special emphasis was put on the interpretation. Based on the determination of the "specific contributions" and the ecological importance of the various evaluated parameters, the final evaluation shows that under specific assumptions the use of certain biofuels has definite environmental advantages compared to fossil fuels.