Impacts of liquid biofuels on the environment: evidences from Germany and India
Student name: Ms Drishya Nair
Guide: Dr Arun Kansal
Year of completion: 2011
Host Organisation: Environment and Policy Research Centre, Freie Universitat, Berlin
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Kirsten Jorgensen
Abstract: Biofuels are considered as a very good alternative to fossil fuels.
Liquid biofuels including bioethanol and biodiesel can be derived from plant
sources and used for power generation. Advantages of using biofuels include
reduced Green House Gas Emission and increased energy security. In the current
context of volatile oil prices and concerns about climate change, several countries
have taken the initiative to promote biofuels. In the past few years, there were
rising concerns about the sustainability of biofuels as a source of energy. In this
study, Germany and India are taken as case studies to investigate the impacts of
biofuels in the environment in terms of ecology and land use change. Germany is
actively involved in production and promotion of biofuels and it is one of the
largest biodiesel producers in the world. India has also taken initiatives to
promote biofuels. Both the countries have set targets of biofuel blending in the
future. Life cycle Analysis studies and stakeholder consultation reveal that in
Germany, there are negative impacts in terms of Eutrophication and Acidification
of water bodies due to rapeseed cultivation. Future target of 10% biofuel blend
will require imports of raw material from rest of the world and hence will put
pressure on the land over there. In case of India also biofuel initiatives are taken
without proper scientific research and the sector has lost momentum due to this.
Key words: Biofuels, Bioethanol, Biodiesel, Green house gas, Eutrophication,
Acidification,
