The EU committed last year to ramp up its use of biofuels in the coming years but has since had to consider ways to ensure their use does not have unintended consequences such as environmental damage and higher food prices.
In a first discussion at the ambassador level, EU states were only "close to a consensus" on one point, an official with the bloc's Slovenian presidency said.
The bloc's leaders committed to increase the EU's renewable energy use by 20 percent by 2020, compared to 1990 levels, with biofuels slated to make up 10 percent of all transport fuels used by then.
The single point of emerging consensus was that biofuels should make greenhouse gas savings of 35 percent compared to oil from the expected entry into force of the regulations in 2009.
However, member state opinions diverged on when the percentage should be increased, another EU diplomat said.
Discussions are also underway about how to calculate the effectiveness of different biofuels, which is essential to determining whether they pass the 35 percent test.
Considered only months ago as a key tool for fighting climate change, the tide has rapidly shifted against biofuels, largely because the use of farmland to make them has been blamed of driving up soaring food prices.
© 2008 AFP
Related stories:
Biofuels backlash in US as food costs hit home
A biofuels backlash has erupted in major ethanol producer the United States, as lawmakers and experts debate the merits of converting food to fuel to support America's age-old love affair with the automobile.
US, EU asked to reconsider biofuel goals as food prices rise
(AP) -- The U.S. and European Union should reconsider a shift to biofuels that has helped increase food prices worldwide by turning agricultural land over to energy crops, American economist Jeffrey Sachs said Monday.
Food scientists say stop biofuels to fight world hunger
(AP) -- Some top international food scientists Tuesday recommended halting the use of food-based biofuels, such as ethanol, saying it would cut corn prices by 20 percent during a world food crisis.
Single-celled bacterium works 24-7, converting light to energy by day, moonlighting at night
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have gained the first detailed insight into the way circadian rhythms govern global gene expression in Cyanothece, a type of cyanobacterium (blue-green algae) known to cycle between photosynthesis during the day and nitrogen fixation at night.
New source for biofuels discovered
A newly created microbe produces cellulose that can be turned into ethanol and other biofuels, report scientists from The University of Texas at Austin who say the microbe could provide a significant portion of the nation’s transportation fuel if production can be scaled up.
Crop management strategies key to a healthy Gulf, planet
Improved management of crops and perennials could go a long way toward alleviating the problem of hypoxia, which claims thousands of fish, shrimp and shellfish in the Gulf of Mexico each spring.
Hitachi, EON and Electrabel join forces to test carbon capture
Japan's Hitachi, German energy group EON and Belgium group Electrabel are joining forces to design and run a carbon capture test centre, the companies said in a joint statement Thursday.
U.S. to help fund biomass research
The U.S. Department of Energy says it will provide up to $44 million in funding to assist universities in biomass technology research and development.
