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| How it all started (1900)…fossile fuels | final countdown in progress… (????) |
Theoretically the use of oil containing plants (worldwide more than 450 different known available species !) can cover the demand for diesel fuel , but it will take quite some time , courage and effort to do so. The present fossil fuel prices still form a handicap for a radical change to bio-fuels and switching to bio-fuels will not be easy or that cheap, but with the right policies it can be made both possible and economically advantageous.
Starting to use bio-fuels as a "complementary" fuel to existing fuels will not only generate new opportunities in this new energy sector but will certainly be a start to reduce the worlds reliance on fossil fuels, whereas at the same time it may somehow delay the end of the (fossil) oil age.
Bio-fuels now emerging, are an instrument to diversify the supply of energy, and already today increasingly supported by larger groups of concerned European citizens, communities, companies and governments. They are no longer a distant dream but a foreseeable reality. They represent the first serious challenges to mineral oils in a century.
No longer fossil fuel supply and fossil fuel stocks are undisputed . No longer can electricity (and natural gas) companies guarantee for uninterrupted electricity supply from their grids. If the energy supply is cut off even for a few days , modern economies come to a dangerous halt. This can lead to one conclusion only: …….energy in future : will become harder to come by, and more costly to use. Basically energy sourcing, supply and distribution is in the hand of a handful players.
Only a few of them feel really the need to look (B)eyond (P)etroleum. Depletion of fossil fuel stocks still is no major issue for them to worry about. Let alone the disguised costs of oil damaging the environment and human health.
At present (2006) worldwide the demand for oil has risen to some 85 million barrels a day. Analysts expect an annual rise of 5 percent, as demand will continue to rise. At present the offer covers barely the production or refinery capacities of the oil producing countries or major oil companies. Political unrest, wars, natural catastrophes, nationalisation of oilfields, depletion of existing oil deposits, frantic searches for new oilfields with excessive cost giving hardly any results and damaging natural habitats, using the "oil weapon" as a political instrument, oil prices touching the USD 115,-- / barrel limit…. you name it …., that is what we face today. It is another sign meaning that the end of the easy oil age is imminent !
Dependency and supply of fossil fuels has never been a hotter topic. !
Although European countries like Sweden, Finland, Germany, Austria, France , Spain, have determined to seriously follow up their endorsements to European directives i.e. (Com 2000/30 EG) and have implemented national strategies for cleaner and alternative energy supply, some other European countries are still ignoring or neglecting the message, still trusting the oil companies to standby when the situation is getting worse.
Chevron CEO, David J.O'Reilly is very clear on that point , stating , corporations, governments and every citizen of this planet must be part of the solution as surely as they are part of the problem.
He calls upon scientists and educators, politicians and policy-makers, environmentalists, leaders of industry and each one of us to be part of reshaping the next era of energy.
New emerging economical powers like China, India, South-America, Russia and others, have come to the market demanding their share or playing their cards to secure their position with regard to fossil fuels. Today China is the second largest importer of fossil fuels after the USA and it will be a matter of time only when their positions change. At that time also the political scene will change dramatically. The consequences of such a change will have its impact for all the world citizens.
It is for that reason the introduction of bio-fuels should be seen as a first step towards a more independent energy supply, where individual nations can pave the way to facilitate and secure one of the basic needs for its citizens.
Energy in its present form has become merchandise, however much more consideration should be given to the aspect that energy is a basic and elementary provision for life on earth, like clean air and clean water.
As long as this merchandise remains in the hands of a few players, it will inevitably lead to accidents somewhere on our planet, whatever comes first, be it, interruptions, war, famine, or environmental damages. Oil companies have in principle no interest in biofuels, their business is fossil fuels, monopolising the market, and making a profit for themselves and their shareholders. Currently their worries are obvious: depletion of oil deposits, nationalisation of oil fields, rising costs to extremes in fossil fuel explorations, and increasingly facing a growing public suspicion and aversion. It seems therefore a paradox as some European countries at need invite oil companies to discuss biofuels for blending purposes. Over the last decades none of the oil companies ever made a serious attempt to cope with the issue of engaging seriously in biofuels and/or other forms cleaner forms of energy for a broader audience. Let alone their concern about the pollution their mineral products already caused and still cause to our habitat.
Bio-fuels, however, not only can co-exist in pure form, like examples shown in Brazil (Ethanol), and Germany (Bio-diesel and PPO), but these pure bio-fuels also showing the first steps to CO2 reductions and other emission reductions.
Blending of bio fuels in minimal percentages in regular fossil fuels, as is proposed by some governments will only give minimal results to emission reductions.
Proven records show that pure biofuels have made their way to the public, without any contribution of the oil companies, and can continue to do so.
Mr. Hermann Scheer, German MP, President of the Solar Energy Association and alternative Nobel prize candidate, recently made a statement to this effect, saying that whenever oil companies announce to engage in alternative energies, they do so for "window dressing" purposes only, but never will perform as a "driving force".
Mr. Scheer is adding that an energy system is never neutral towards its energy sources. In all its aspects it should be based on its preferred energy source. From exploration to processing, from the transition to the necessary infrastructures, up to character and policy of the company, everything depends on the chosen energy source and the strings attached to it.
Following this attitude politically in terms of biofuel engagements , can cause a fatal judgement, since the monopoly of the transport fuel trade, has been allocated to oil companies only. Therefore a proposed and mandatory blending of bio-fuels by the oil companies will inevitably lead to maintaining the monopoly of trade by the oil companies, although their real interests are lying elsewhere. Each time the percentage of biofuels in blended form should be raised in future, it will lead to objections and discussions of the parties involved. Following this path will simply be a handover of the bio-fuel initiators to those who have no real interest in the subject.
Biofuels in pure form will stand no chance to survive, and further initiatives for second generation type of biofuels will not be implemented, taking the mandatory blending by the monopolistic players as an example and a lesson. It will, as a result, systematically kill the dynamics in the bio fuel developments. Moreover it is a direct threat to innovations and to small- and medium sized companies, the real initiators and frontrunners of alternative and cleaner energy.
Mandatory blending will also take away the pressure for carmakers to produce and release vehicles able to run on pure biofuels. Instead the message will be to wait for the so called biosynthetic fuels, for which we do not need new engines. This would however mean another 10-15 years of watching and by standing, which would cause an unacceptable delay in view of our needed energy supply and at the same time it will delay the reduction of emissions so urgently required.
Last but not least as a gloomy prospect, oil companies in order to save cost, will try to minimise or reduce the bio -obligation without any adequate ecological accounting. As tropical plant oil or other fuel products from plantations will be their cheapest source, a faster deforestation of rainforest will be very likely. As a conclusion, policymakers should realise that the easy way to introduce biofuels to a broader audience is not the mandatory blending, and hence limiting others to approach this field. The strength lies in a diversified offer of bio-fuels or alternative energies of many different sources to be able to enter the market, and get established , offering all stakeholders and participants equal chances and possibilities to contribute to our main objectives to cope : Energy and Environment, which is so desperately needed for our future generations.
Hein Aberson
SolarOil Systems (NL)
www.solaroilsystems.nl
