B7 damages engines

Claim:
Media warned about increasing the biodiesel blending rate with fossil diesel from 5% to 7%, fearing engine damage.

Facts:
An official clarification was issued by TÜV Süd on April 20, 2008. TÜV SÜD sees no issue with Biodiesel B7 in Munich. In a report on potential problems with the new B7 diesel, Bild am Sonntag quoted a TÜV SÜD expert, headlining: “TÜV warns against new diesel.” TÜV SÜD clarified: The inquiry was generally about biodiesel compatibility and risk factors of further blending increases. The expert’s concerns referred to blends of around 30%. A 7% blend, planned from 2009, is considered unproblematic. TÜV SÜD also only addressed possible effects on fuel line systems, not on engines. ADAC and VDA also voiced no concerns. France switched to B7 diesel at the beginning of 2008.

Biodiesel blending

Claim:
The German automotive and mineral oil industries claim that no more than 7% biodiesel should be blended.

Facts:

• • Chrysler supports a 20% blend in the U.S.

  • Peugeot & Citroën support up to 30% in Europe

  • French particulate filter manufacturer Rhodia confirmed successful tests with B100 (pure biodiesel), showing filters can function reliably with it.

Biodiesel through hydrogenation

Claim:
Biodiesel produced by hydrogenation of vegetable oils is better than biodiesel made via esterification.

Facts:
According to VDB, the oil industry primarily uses palm oil for hydrogenation, while in esterification the palm oil share is under 5% in Europe. Sustainability is questioned due to high energy demands and hydrogen sourced from fossil fuels, worsening both energy and ecological balance. Reliable studies are currently lacking.

BTL – 2nd generation fuels

Claim:
2nd generation fuels (BTL = Biomass to Liquid) are superior to biodiesel. It’s better to wait for BTL than to use biodiesel now.

Facts:
Studies estimate 200–300 million euros in investment for a BTL plant with 100,000 tons/year capacity. In comparison, a biodiesel plant of the same size costs just 20–30 million euros. BTL is too uncertain and expensive to rely on. Biodiesel is already working today.

CO2 savings potential

Claim:
Biodiesel doesn’t save CO2 compared to fossil diesel.

Facts:
Biodiesel from EU-grown rapeseed offers up to 92% better CO2 efficiency compared to fossil diesel (Source: IEA – International Energy Agency). The CO2 balance improves further if biodiesel is also used during rapeseed cultivation. Germany’s current biodiesel production capacity (almost 5 million tons) could save around 12.5 million tons of CO2 annually. gbf Biofuels GmbH alone saved nearly 220,000 tons of CO2 in 2010.

Biofuels vs. food & farmland

Claim:
Energy crop cultivation competes with food production and causes famine.

Facts:
Reasons for rising food prices are varied:

• Global demand is growing, especially in Asia (notably China and India)

• Rising meat consumption increases demand for animal feed

• Speculators and commodity funds have moved into agriculture

• Recent harvests have been below average

• Export bans and increased tariffs (e.g., China and Argentina)

• Mismanagement and corruption (e.g., land seizures in Zimbabwe)

• Rising production costs due to oil and fertilizer prices

In biodiesel and bioethanol production, 2/3 of rapeseed oil and 4/5 of soybean oil yield rapeseed cake and soybean meal as by-products, mostly used as animal feed and sometimes as meat or milk substitutes.

Independent estimates suggest that only 1–2% of global farmland is used for energy crops. Sustainable production that avoids valuable ecosystems (like rainforests) can support both food and biofuel needs. Fallow land in Eastern Europe offers significant additional farming potential. As a crucifer, rapeseed is essential in crop rotation.

According to VDB (German Biofuels Industry Association), there’s enough farmland to feed both plates and tanks. Research identifies over 100 million hectares of land globally that could be cultivated without affecting food production or sensitive ecosystems. Higher prices can make farming viable again, even on previously unprofitable land, encouraging increased productivity worldwide. Many developing countries now see biofuels as a means to reduce dependency on oil imports and to strengthen their agriculture—making biofuels a true form of development aid.