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National Express Halts Biofuels Trial on Environmental Concerns

Posted on: Tuesday, 7 August 2007, 12:22 CDT

UK transport group National Express has reportedly ended a trial of biofuels across its UK bus fleet, after consultations with a number of environmental groups led the company to become concerned that it may be doing more harm to the environment than good, The Guardian has reported.

There is an ongoing debate surrounding the use of biofuels as a more environmentally friendly fuel option. A number of environmental and social groups have recently voiced fears that the intensive farming practices behind growing the crops used to produce the fuel will disrupt farming and increase food prices in developing countries, as well as destroying natural habitats.

The Guardian cited Richard Bowker, National Express's chief executive, as saying: "Biofuels may well have a role to play in helping us reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases arising from transport operations in the future and we are not dismissing the role they may play in the future, but based on the evidence today I think it is vital that we wait for issues relating to the sustainability of supply are resolved before we press ahead with trials of biodiesel."

According to The Guardian, National Express has not ruled out the use of second-generation biofuels that are produced using wood chips and straw rather than food crops. However, these fuels are believed to be a long way from widespread implementation.

Although National Express has abandoned the trials, which The Scotsman said could have resulted in some of its London buses running on 30% biofuels, a number of other UK-based transport firms are continuing with their trials of the fuel option. These companies include Virgin Trains and Virgin Atlantic.

Source: Datamonitor

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