Eco-fuels 'more harmful than normal energy'

Environmentally-friendly fuels could actually be more damaging than normal energy sources, a new report has suggested.

According to a study from the government, which the Times newspaper has reportedly seen, fossil fuels are better for the environment than biofuel alternatives.

The survey shows that a number of biofuel crops also fall short of a European Commission-set standard on sustainability, which states that each litre of biofuel should lower emissions by at least 35 per cent when compared with traditional fuels used.

"The study shows that palm oil increases emissions by 31 per cent because of the carbon released when forest and grassland is turned into plantations. Rape seed and soy also fail to meet the standard," reported the newspaper.

The production of palm oil has to begin with the clearing of large areas of rainforest, the newspaper noted, and it can take up to 840 years for a palm oil plantation to soak up the carbon emitted by its creation.

Palm oil and its use is a controversial topic among the environmental community. It can be found in large numbers of common household goods, such as soap or make-up.

Written by Kimberley Homer.

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