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 Greenergy claims transport fuel data first
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Greenergy Fuels has become the first road fuel firm in the UK to
publish figures on carbon dioxide (CO2) emission reductions from
vehicles running on its petrol and diesel.

In the first three months of 2006, the firm claims that sales of 1.7
million litres of bioethanol and biodiesel have prevented 40,000 tonnes
of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

The figures, which the firm plans to publish quarterly, have been
independently assessed by the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management,
and takes into account emissions from transporting the fuel to the UK.

Cars running on biofuels - which are refined from sugar cane or
vegetable oils - still emit greenhouse gases, but this is to some
degree cancelled out by the CO2 absorbed while the crops grow.

However, some environmental activists argue that the emissions from
farming methods and pesticide production, as well as transporting the
fuel to the UK, reduce the climate benefits of using biofuels. Palm oil
and soya pose an additional problem, because growers sometimes cut down
rainforest in order to grow the lucrative crops.

"We have taken account of the origin of the feedstock and the type of
feedstock that's used," Greenergy spokeswoman Alex Lewis said,
emphasising that the company does try to ensure its fuel crops come
from sustainable sources.

Robin Oakley, a climate change campaigner at Greenpeace, called the
publication of real data based on sales a welcome step forward - as
long as it takes into account the full life-cycle of the fuel.

The UK government has introduced a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation
which requires fuel suppliers to mix a percentage of biofuels into the
fuel sold on forecourts. Fuel standards in the UK restrict the
proportion of biofuels that can be mixed with petrol to 5%, so at least
95% of Greenergy's fuel is still sourced from oil. The firm claims 50%
of the UK's biofuels market and 6% of the total road fuel market,
selling petrol and diesel to bus companies and supermarkets.

Greenergy plans to publish updated emissions figures on its website
every month.
(http://www.environmental-finance.com)

(Source: Environmental Finance)