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BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?

BIOENERGY FOR EUROPE: WHICH ONES FIT BEST?

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7.2 Comparisons between the countries for each biofuel 163<br />

7.2.6 Sunflower oil methyl ester (SME) versus fossil diesel fuel for transportation:<br />

relative impact differences between biofuels and fossil fuels<br />

1500%<br />

1000%<br />

500%<br />

0%<br />

-500%<br />

Use of fossil fuels<br />

Greenhouse effect<br />

How to interpret the diagram<br />

Ozone Depletion by N2O<br />

Acidification<br />

Eutrophication<br />

Summer smog<br />

Human toxicity<br />

France<br />

Greece<br />

Italy<br />

Europe<br />

Environmental advantages and disadvantages of SME compared to diesel fuel for each country involved<br />

as well as for Europe are shown by relative differences between the biofuels and the fossil fuel: (biofuel<br />

– fossil fuel) / fossil fuel. The zero line indicates the level for fossil fuels. Therefore negative values<br />

indicate advantages for SME and positive ones represent advantages for diesel fuel. For example, assuming<br />

the production and combustion of fossil fuel causes an emission of 1 kg of N2O (Ozone depletion),<br />

then a value of -100 % means no net N2O emissions in the case of the biofuel, 0 % means 1 kg<br />

N2O (i.e. the same as the fossil fuel), 100 % means 2 kg N2O and so on.<br />

Remarks and conclusions<br />

The results give a uniform picture regarding use of fossil fuels, greenhouse effect and also regarding<br />

ozone depletion and acidification. The large differences regarding eutrophication are due to different<br />

PO4 3- emissions to water and different yields, which together lead to very different credits. Most of the<br />

other differences are rather small and to be regarded as less significant.

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