Promoting biofuels: implications for developing countries

Bezeichnung Wert
Titel
Promoting biofuels: implications for developing countries
Verfasserangabe
Jörg Peters and Sascha Thielmann
Medienart
Sprache
Person
Reihe
Reihenvermerk
38
Verlag
RWI
Ort
Essen
Jahr
Umfang
17 p.
Schlagwort
Annotation
Interest in biofuels is growing worldwide as concerns about the security of energy supply and climate change are moving into the focus of policy makers. With the exception of bioethanol from Brazil, however, production costs of biofuels are typically much higher than those of fossil fuels. As a result, promotion measures such as tax exemptions or blending quotas are indispensable for ascertaining substantial biofuel demand. With particular focus on developing countries, this paper discusses the economic justification of biofuel promotion instruments and investigates their implications. Based on data from India and Tanzania, we find that substantial biofuel usage induces significant financial costs. Furthermore, acreage availability is a binding natural limitation that could also lead to conflicts with food production. Yet, if carefully implemented under the appropriate conditions, biofuel programs might present opportunities for certain developing countries.