Biofuels
Using biofuel blends is one way New Zealand drivers can help address climate change impacts, including reducing the emissions from our transport sector. This section includes:
Resources on the sustainability of biofuels
Published reports about biofuels.
Sustainability
Biofuels around the world vary in they way they are produced with differing impacts on climate change, the environment and people. New Zealand is working towards ensuring we produce and access only sustainable biofuels both today and in the future.
Sustainability is about making the right choices to reduce our impact on the environment. When it comes to biofuels, this means ensuring biofuels we use in New Zealand do not compete with food production, do not come from rainforest areas or other environmentally important land and reduce overall carbon dioxide emissions, even when you factor in transporting them here from overseas.
Work is underway on developing and implementing sustainability requirements for biofuels. This way we can ensure that biofuels available for sale in New Zealand will be sustainably produced and deliver net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
See the EECA Resource Centre resources for further information on the sustainability of potential biofuel sources for New Zealand.
Fuel quality regulations
The quality of biofuels and biofuel blends for sale in New Zealand is controlled by the Engine Fuel Quality Regulations as provided by the Parliamentary Counsel office.
The regulations were developed in consultation with the oil and motor vehicle industries and came into effect on 1 July 2008.
EECA provides Biofuels specifications and regulation information for those thinking of making their biofuel.
Research funding
There are funding programmes available that are working towards the development of biofuels for New Zealand.
The Low Carbon Energy Technologies Fund (provided by the Foundation for Research, Science & Technology) seeks to assist public and private organisations who have completed basic research and have demonstrated the potential of a new technology at proof of concept stage, to move through the pilot/demonstration plant stage.
Various funding streams are available through New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE):
- Enterprise Development Grants
- Australia New Zealand Biotechnology Partnership Fund (ANZBPF)
- General (non-financial) support for business development
Biodiesel grants scheme
The biodiesel grants scheme is designed to:
- Provide support for the nascent New Zealand biodiesel manufacturing industry as an economic development measure
- Offer comparable treatment with bioethanol for biodiesel
- Diversify the New Zealand fuel market
- Encourage the adoption of environmentally responsible fuels which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Read more about the biodiesel grants scheme
Published reports about biofuels
The following useful reports, studies and resources have been produced on biofuels.
Reports on sustainability and biofuel sources:
- Rising food prices and biofuels (September 2008)
- Food prices and biofuels (Updated report - June 2009)
- Brazilian sugarcane sustainability report (May 2008)
- Cost effective sustainable fuels for performance vehicles (August 2008)
- Bioenergy options for New Zealand - visit Scion Research (August 2008)
- Primary energy and greenhouse gas emissions from biodiesel made from NZ tallow (2006)
- Peer Review for Canola (Rapeseed) Life Cycle Assessment (July 2008)
Consumer factsheets and research:
- Consumer information on biofuel sustainability (February 2008)
- Consumer research into the motivators and barriers to using biofuel blends- EECA and AC Nielsen (July 2007)
Biofuels - general:
- Working with Bioethanol-Blended Petrol (July 2009)
- Biofuels Fact Sheet (June 2008)
- Results of corrosion testing of bioethanol blended fuel on aluminium engine components (July 2009).
More information
- Bioenergy Association of New Zealand - section on liquid biofuels
- The Ministry of Economic Development page on biofuels
- The Ministry of Transport - policy development on biofuels
- The Ministry of Research, Science and Technology on renewable energy
- The Automobile Association's information about biofuels
- Motor Industry Association
- Fuelsaver
- Rightcar
