A British fuels company has quantified for the first time carbon dioxide emission savings made through the sale of biofuels. Greenergy, which supplies biofuels which are retailed predominantly through supermarket forecourts, said more than 40,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions have been saved during the first quarter of 2006.

The savings, independently assessed by the Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Management, are equivalent to taking more than 50,000 family cars off the road for the three month period. The use of biofuels, rather than fossil fuels, is intended to reduce carbon dioxide emissions which are believed to contribute to global warming.

Britain has set a goal that five percent of all motor fuel sold in Britain must come from renewable sources by 2010. The target, known as the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, was set in November 2005 and required a 20-fold increase in biofuels use.

The British government has proposed that companies should supply details on the level of carbon savings. Biofuels can be made from a wide variety of different crops including grains, sugar cane and oilseeds as well as waste products such as used cooking oil.
(Planet Ark, 12/05/2006)
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/36324/story.htm
(Carbono Brasil, 12/05/06)
http://www.carbonobrasil.com/noticias.asp?iNoticia=12821&iTipo=7&idioma=1