Government announces funding for bio-fuels

The government has committed to funding four bio-fuel projects that will create a ‘greener’ alternative to petrol and diesel.

Biofuels are produced from renewable organic materials, such as household waste, unused straw from farmland, and old wood and according to the government, over the next decade, the UK biofuels industry is expected to be worth over £400m and create 9,800 jobs. 

It has long been touted as a ‘renewable’ fuel for transport. However, the industry has received criticism due to its links with deforestation.

Two of the projects are being funded by the government’s £20m Future Fuels for Flight and Freight Competition. 

KEW Projects and Rika Biogas have been awarded a shared £6.5m budget to build plants which will provide fuel for heavy goods vehicles. 

The further two projects have been awarded funding from the £25m Advanced Biofuels Demonstration Competition.

One of the projects is being run by Nova Pangaea Technologies, who will focus on the production of bio-ethanol from wood waste that can be blended with existing petrol used in road transport.

Nottingham City Transport has already introduced biofuel buses to the city, they currently have 120 bio-gas double deck buses in areas that have the poorest air quality. The council has said that not only do the buses help to improve air quality, but that they also generate CO2 savings of 84% as well as reducing the amount of farm, food, and sewage waste going to landfill. 

Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘Whether you’re commuting to work or travelling on a family getaway, we want that journey to be as green and environmentally friendly as possible.

‘This funding will help encourage innovative technology using today’s waste to power tomorrow’s green transport revolution, helping us reach a cleaner and greener future.

Future of transport minister, George Freeman, said: ‘We made legally binding commitments to reaching net-zero. 

‘We are delivering these commitments by investing in research and development, supporting the uptake of low emission and electric vehicles, new inner-city Clean Air Zones and the world’s first comprehensive Transport Decarbonisation Plan.

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