Swiss report cautions not all biofuels created equal

In Switzerland, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA), in conjunction with the Institute Agroscope Reckenholz-Tänikon (ART), and the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI), updated its 2007 biofuels report in a new study entitled, Harmonisation and extension of the bioenergy inventories and assessment. The study found that biofuels can be sustainable and may have a lower carbon impact than fossil fuels depending on specific conditions and technology. These conclusions were similar to those included in the 2007 report. The report also examined indirect land-use change, the use of fertilizers and other environmental changes due to the production of biofuels.