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 2007, it was a challenging year for Biofuels in Australia. A hostile policy agenda from government, increasing feedstock costs, and a slowly blossoming demand contributed to a difficult year. In contrast, 2008 could be a much friendlier orbit around the sun.
2008 is heralded with the perception that the Rudd government is open to facilitating the growth of Biofuels, the industry has established a true peak-body group, Biofuels Association of Australia, to facilitate the needs of the Biofuel industry, and increased fossil fuel prices are helping to generate increased demand for Biofuels. The future is promising. Globally, Biofuels are reported to have increased by 15-20%, whereas Australia is still trailing the pack in advancement of Biofuel production. On the bright side, in 2007, 42 States, Provinces or Countries have established Biofuel mandates, up from 38 in 2006. There are a number of alternative feedstock programs scheduled to deliver positive outcomes, and private capital (in the Americas, EU, and Asia) continues to fund feedstock, Biofuel production, and distribution projects. Production of Ethanol and Biodiesel | 2005 (B.L.) | 2006 (B.L.) | 2007 (B.L.) | Ethanol production (annual) | 33 | 38 | 44 | Biodiesel production (annual) | 3.9 | 6 | 8 |
Even more indicative of the potential growth in Biofuels is the double digit increase in Renewable Energy Worldwide in 2007. Renewables (according to the REN21 report) now make up 240 GW (excepting large hydro), almost 6%, of the total global demand of 4,300 GW and $66 Billion (USD) in investment. Even the skeptics are having a difficult time ignoring the trend. | Growth Rates 2007 from 2006 | | Wind 25-30% | 93GW from 74GW | | Solar PV (grid) 50-60% | 7.8GW from 5GW | | Solar hot water15-20% | | | Biofuels 15-20% | |
There is every hope that 2008 will become the “Tipping Point” year for Renewables and transition from the class of “Alternatives” to the “Mainstream” of energy resources. “With over 2.5 million jobs in the renewable energy industry, and strong rural development benefits as well, Renewables contribute to economic development, energy security, and local environment, as well as climate mitigation.” http://www.ren21.net/news/news20.asp “That attitude, along with the desire for energy independence, stable energy prices and the need to address climate change, is what has driven 58 countries to set renewable energy targets and 56 others to create renewable energy "promotion policies," ensuring a sixth consecutive year of double digit growth rates for wind, solar and Biofuels”, says Janet Sawin, Director of the Energy and Climate Change program at the Worldwatch Institute in Washington, DC.However, it is the constant uphill battle to encourage demand for Renewables that will predicate the transformation from “Alternative” to “Mainstream”. That means YOU; not the government nor the environmental organizations. TBS encourages its enlightened customers to continue to demonstrate the advantages of Renewables and energy efficiency to progress Australia’s goal of 20% Renewables by 2020. 2008 is the “International Year of Planet Earth” http://info.see.leeds.ac.uk/news-items/localnewsitem.2006-05-11.1757975817
Let’s Make the Most of It - Happy New Year Additional source: http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com |
