O bioetanol pode vencer em tempo de crise para biocombustíveis da União Europeia

(Notícia em Inglês)
A divisive European debate over the green credentials of biofuels has stalled investment, but the stalemate may soon be over for advanced biofuels and some types of bioethanol.

The debate over biodiesel, however, looks set to rage on.

After a two-year investigation, the European Commission has decided that the complex issue of "indirect land use change" (ILUC) can lessen carbon savings from biofuels.

That is a problem, after the EU agreed to get nearly 10 percent of its road fuels from biofuels within a decade, creating a $17 billion annual market for biofuels from producers such as France, Germany, Brazil, Malaysia and Indonesia.

The battle over ILUC has poured doubt on the security of any new investments, but that could be ended this summer when the Commission announces moves to curb the least sustainable.

"The ILUC debate has been highly damaging for the industry," said Kare Riis Nielsen, head of EU affairs at Danish enzymes producers Novozymes. "The uncertain policy conditions on biofuels have stalled much needed investments in sustainable biofuels, particularly in next-generation biofuels."