A recent study commissioned by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) is questioning the climate-friendliness of biodiesel derived from used cooking oils. According to the findings, the use of HVO 100 biofuel, produced from this source, may not be beneficial for the climate and, when considering all effects, could potentially be detrimental.
Horst Fehrenbach, of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research (Ifeu) and a co-author of the study, told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that the investigation reveals a significant reliance on imports. Remarkably, over 99.99% of the used cooking oil utilized for biodiesel production originates from outside Germany. Approximately half of this supply is sourced from Asia, with China, Indonesia and Malaysia being primary contributors.
The increased global demand for this biofuel, including in Germany, is reportedly diverting used cooking oils from local industries in supplying nations. This, in turn, creates a void frequently filled by cheaper palm oil. Palm oil production is often associated with climate damage due to large-scale deforestation of rainforests and the drainage of peatlands, which subsequently release greenhouse gases.
HVO 100 is currently being utilized in Germany to improve the carbon footprint of public and long-distance transportation. The biofuel sector has previously estimated that biodiesel could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 87% compared to diesel derived from petroleum.