Are biofuels viable as a sustainable fuel?

Paddy Murphy, general manager of Continental Tyres Ireland, and Michael Moroney, vice chairman of the Irish Motoring Writers Association, with the raw material and end product of some of Ireland’s biofuels.

Ireland is almost completely dependent on fossil fuels. How vulnerable does that make our transport system and economy as a whole? Are biofuels really the way to ensure a sustainable transport system?

These and many other such questions will be debated at an upcoming Green Power Forum that is being organised by the Irish Motoring Writers Association. The event will take place at the Radisson SAS St Helen’s Hotel in Stillorgan on Friday November 7. The Green Power Forum is sponsored by Continental Tyres.

The event will feature an address by Mr Per Carstedt, chairman of the Swedish Bio-Alcohol Fuel Foundation and a renowned expert and campaigner for bio-fuels.

Mr Carstedt has been instrumental in popularising the use of hybrid ethanol cars in Sweden where, in the space of four years, such vehicles went from zero to 25 per cent of all new cars sold in the country. His address will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by broadcaster Rodney Rice.

The discussion panel will include contributors representing the differing points of view in the biofuels debate.

“The IMWA is acutely aware of Ireland’s fuel conundrum,” says Michael Moroney, vice-chairman of the IMWA. “We hope this forum will help to publicise the issue and give us an idea of how other European countries are facing up to it. It will also be an opportunity to highlight the unique potential for Ireland’s agricultural sector in relation to ethanol and other alternative fuels.”

The debate about sustainable transport fuel supply is critically important to everyone involved in the automotive industry – from tyre makers to car manufacturers to fuel providers, says Paddy Murphy, general nanager of Continental Tyres Ireland.

“Alternative fuel solutions that are both sustainable and truly viable are the number one priority if we are to meet this challenge. There is also still a huge amount that can be done to ensure we are optimising current fuel use and implementing fuel saving in every possible way. Raising all of these issues at an event like this is an important small step.”

The event is aimed at a broad number of interests including local authorities, environmental groups, agricultural bodies, and companies from the motoring and fuel sectors. Admission to the forum is free, but advance registration is required. For further information email: dburke@cullencommunications.ie