MEM57

MEM
MARINE ENGINEERS MESSENGER
Telegraph
The Lloyd’s Register report commissioned by the Sustainable
Shipping Initiative on the merits of using biofuels to meet the
impending global sulphur cap rule is way of mark and will do more
environmental harm than good if the shipping industry goes down
the vegetable oil route.
While some biofuels are obviously a good way of reducing
shipping’s environmental footprint, the use of vegetable oils has a
greater impact on the environment than burning fossil fuels.
Not so long ago, there was considerable investment in processing
the Jatropha plant, which was then considered the ultimate green
fuel. It came to pass however that producing the stuff did more harm
than good. The plant is highly toxic, and lush fertile ground was
razed to make a way for Jatropha planting.
The same can be said of palm and corn-based biofuels, which have
proven controversial given the consequent increase in deforestation,
drainage of peatlands, loss of biodiversity and reduced availability of
freshwater. Palm and corn plantations for fuel have also seen an
increase in the use of chemical-based fertilisers and pesticides.
Indeed, the Royal Academy of Engineering published a report last
year stating that burning some vegetable-based biofuels have led to
more emissions than burning fossil fuels. The report, Sustainability
of Liquid Biofuels, advocated greater use of waste products, such as
used cooking oils, ‘fatbergs’, and timber.
Another interesting report by the Hunger Math blog highlighted
the impact on global food production when land that could be used
for food crops is given over to crops for fuel. Have a read of this very
thought proving report here:
https://hungermath.wordpress.com/2015/10/29/how-muchfarmland-is-used-for-biofuel/
While it is commendable that there is a movement to create a
more sustainable shipping industry, the bigger picture has to be
taken into account.
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MEM Issue 57
28 May 2018
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