As soon as that's agreed on, we can look at the introduction and ending.
We applaud you for creating a clear, accesible transprancy for European citizens in the decision making process.
To take one example, the entire current EU production of rapeseed and sunflowerseed would not suffice to provide 5.75% of EU diesel fuel consumption, which is the non-mandatory target set by the EU for 2010.
How about mentioning mass recycling of cooking oils?
More typos:
Your position to to stress the Commissions to on the car industry we support fully, although we would welcome also obligatory measures to fulfill the CO2 reduction target.
The transparency: we wouldn't be able to respond to them if they hadn't posted their draft opinions on the internet. Mind, that many of their documents are there in every EU language. Some texts, like the amendments, are solely in English. It's reasonably good.
It seemed from our calculations that the 5.75% target might be barely met with marginal use of biodiesel but 10% to 12% ethanol?
Surplus production [of ethanol (in excess of 100% self-sufficiency)] would [only] suffice to cover [2/3 of the target]. Only an extension of the area of ethanol feedstock crops, or a transfer of crops from animal feed to ethanol, would cover needs.
Our calculations were:
According to Eurostat, transport fuel consumption for 2002 in the EU-25 was : petrol, 5.2 e6 TJ ; diesel, 6.6 e6 TJ. 5.75% of these gives: petrol, 0.3 e6 TJ ; diesel, 0.38 e6 TJ Ethanol : 0.3 e6 TJ petrol / 22 MJ/l = 13.6 e9 l Biodiesel: 0.38 e6 TJ diesel / 34 MJ/l = 11.2 e9 l If all the area (statistics, DG Agriculture) currently dedicated to potential ethanol feedstocks were used for ethanol, production could be an estimated: · 10.5 e9 l of ethanol potential from the current EU-25 cultivated area of sugar beet (2.1 e6 ha @ 5000 l/ha) · 19 e9 l of maize ethanol potential (from 6.5 e6 ha @ 3100 l/ha) · 33.5 e9 l of common wheat ethanol potential (from 13.4 e6 ha @ 2500 l/ha) · 23 e9 l of barley ethanol potential (from 23 e6 ha @ 1000 l/ha). If only the surplus percentage (in excess of 100% self-sufficiency) of these crops were to be used, the estimates would be: · 30% sugar beet: 10.5 e9 l x 30% = 3.15 e9 l ethanol · 9% common wheat: 33.5 e9 l x 9% = 3 e9 l · 13% barley: 23 e9 l x 13% = 3 e9 l Surplus production (9 e9 l ethanol) would not suffice to cover the needed 13.6 e9 l. Only an extension of the area of ethanol feedstock crops, or a transfer of crops from animal feed to ethanol, would cover needs. As for biodiesel, the total area of the two principal feedstocks, rapeseed and sunflower seed, would produce an estimated: · 5 e9 l from rapeseed (4.5 e6 ha x 1100 l/ha); · 2.2 e9 l from sunflower (2.2 e6 ha x 1000 l/ha) Total production (7.2 e9 l) would not suffice to cover the needed 11.2 e9 l.
As for biodiesel, the total area of the two principal feedstocks, rapeseed and sunflower seed, would produce an estimated:
· 5 e9 l from rapeseed (4.5 e6 ha x 1100 l/ha); · 2.2 e9 l from sunflower (2.2 e6 ha x 1000 l/ha)
Total production (7.2 e9 l) would not suffice to cover the needed 11.2 e9 l.
Yes, your point about ethanol/biodiesel aggregate is right: no doubt they say it's in the aggregate. My attempt here, however, is to do something punchy that will remain as a line of reasoning in readers' minds, so I avoided going into full detail. We could add the above calcs as a note?
I pointed out bits that were wrong but I waan;t quite sure how to correct.
And I don't want to run the risk of triggering the local firewall by submitting an edit. Nothing is 'mere'. — Richard P. Feynman
Are you an alien invader?
As said, I'd refer to our consultation available at the EC website and indeed just write up the two conclusions.
Next attempt is made.
Writeboard Compare is great. I won't ask what 2nd generation biofuels are coz it would make me look, er...
rhg Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.
1st generation = food crops turned into either ethanol (means hooch) to be mixed with petrol, or oil to be used in diesel engines. 2nd generation = fuels made from cellulose, allowing use of wood chips, grass, etc. The latter are not yet fully R&D'd.
This is supposing you have understanding arms.
I may steal this for my sig quote. Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.
