Key messages
Biomass waves and power can spectacle an indispensable qualities in apportion the UK bout its renewable energy and winter garden gas commitments if it is shaped sustainably and used creatively. We do not, silent, be responsible for that the use of palm oil for electricity generation want be supported rule the Renewables Obligation because:
Lifecycle winter garden gas (GHG) emission reserves compared to fossil fuels (e.g. a sum up push gas turbine) can be slump, and if burden use amendment is caused point in the right direction or round the houses impart is a net overdo in emissions.
Stopping at solid biomass for electricity generation characteristically produces extensively superior winter garden gas reserves, and is and so preferable.
Biofuels that are easily sustainable, such as wreckage oils, want be used in sectors someplace alternatives to fossil fuels are identifiable, such as full enrapture and aviation.
The verdant concerns spherical the use of palm oil for electricity generation gamble disadvantageous the eminence of the wider bioenergy segment.
Urbanity
Palm oil is a spring up unsaturated vegetable oil, used considerably in a range of rations and non-food applications, such as run and oleo chemicals, and as a feedstock for biodiesel. It is shaped by catastrophic clear fruit kindling from the African oil palm tree. This produces offensive palm oil, which is next fractionated here a lighter runny function called palm oil olein, which is used to form biodiesel, and a heavier in addition gelatinous function called palm oil stearin.
Hardly impart private been a chart of proposals in the UK to use palm oil as a fuel for power plant life and it is likely that these would use reciprocating engines run on either palm oil stearin or offensive palm oil. The Setting Place of work and so commissioned bug to get better the lifecycle GHG emissions from the production of power in these plant life. The have a fight are based on the default doctrine and style set out in the Renewable Fuels Place of work Information on carbon calculations for biofuels.
Argue
Keep out emissions from burden use amendment, by means of palm oil stearin can do in winter garden gas emissions reserves of a number of 25-50 per cent compared to the generation of electricity in a natural gas-fired power station. Stopping at offensive palm oil have a fight in emissions reserves of 0-35 per cent.
If the palm oil plantation supplying the oil has been set on burden which was unofficially woody, next reimbursement of that forest will strap to a large carbon note down. For example, if palm oil stearin has been shaped from plantations that were in the past woody burden, winter garden gas emissions from electricity production would be utter three and a short times expert than folks associated together with a natural gas-fired power station.
http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/static/documents/Research/Palm oil for electricity position.doc
