FOREWORD
The IEA last published a book on biofuels in 1994 (
Biofuels
). Many developments have occurred in the past decade, though policy objectivesremain similar: improving energy security and curbing greenhouse gasemissions are, perhaps more than ever, important priorities for IEA countries. And, more than ever, transportation energy use plays a central role in theseissues. New approaches are needed to cost-effectively move transportationaway from its persistent dependence on oil and onto a more sustainable track.But technology has made interesting progress and this will continue in thecoming years, creating new opportunities for achieving these objectives.It is not surprising that interest in biofuels – and biofuels production – hasincreased dramatically in this past decade. Global fuel ethanol productiondoubled between 1990 and 2003, and may double again by 2010. In someregions, especially Europe, biodiesel fuel use has also increased substantially in recent years. Perhaps most importantly, countries all around the world arenow looking seriously at increasing production and use of biofuels, and many have put policies in place to ensure that such an increase occurs. This book takes a global perspective in assessing how far we have come – andwhere we seem to be going – with biofuels use in transport. It reviews recent research and experience in a number of areas: potential biofuels impacts onpetroleum use and greenhouse gas emissions; current and likely future costsof biofuels; fuel compatibility with vehicles; air quality and otherenvironmental impacts; and recent policy activity around the world. It alsoprovides an assessment of just how much biofuels could be produced in OECDand non-OECD regions, given land requirements and availability, what thecosts and benefits of this production might be, and how we can maximisethose benefits over the next ten years and beyond.
Claude Mandil Executive Director, IEA
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