Bio-fuels ‘must be policy priority’

AS energy costs continue to rise worldwide, demands are growing in Ireland to make bio-fuels a policy priority to reduce over-reliance on the Middle East for oil and to replace fossil fuel.

With the European Parliament agriculture committee discussing rising fuel costs this week, Fine Gael MEP Mairéad McGuinness said the price of diesel had increased by over 20% in just 10 months, and looks set to rise even further, while the price of green diesel has rocketed by 34%.

Every energy crisis over the past 30 years led to a surge of interest in bio-fuels. But once the crisis eased, the interest waned. However, there is an urgent need to look seriously and strategically at the potential for fuel crops.