Regulatory uncertainty slows EU biofuels

摘要

London—The growth in biofuels consumption for transport purposes within the European Union showed further signs of weakening in 2012, amid an “uncertain political context” and increased political pressure to curb the expansion of first-generation ethanol and biodiesel, an EU think tank report said Friday. Biofuels consumption rose to 14.4 million mt of oil equivalent in 2012, up 0.4 million mtoe from the year before. But the rate of growth, at 2.9%, was significantly slower than the 5.3% rise recorded in 2011 and the 10.7% climb registered in 2010, according to EurObserv’ER, a European Commission research body on renewable energy.