Biofuels are not a long term alternative to conventional fuels

Timed to coincide with Biofuels Day on April 15, the latest research from British Market Research Bureau and BPRI reveals that less than half the British public (48%) believe that biofuels are a long term alternative to conventional fuels, 46% of British MPs believe the same.

Dubbed Biofuels Day by The Renewable Energy Association (REA), April 15 is the day Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) is introduced by the government. The RTFO means that all fuel companies in the UK will have to replace a certain percentage of their annual fossil fuel sales with biofuels, by law. As from that date, 2.5 per cent of fuel produced in the UK will have to come from renewable sources such as crops, as opposed to being made from oil taken from the ground or from under our oceans. According to the research, 97% of British MPs have at least some knowledge about biofuels compared with 48% of the general public. A total of 46% of the public have either “never heard” of biofuels (16%) or “heard of but know nothing” (30%) compared with just 3% of MPs.

22% of men claim to know a fair amount/a lot about biofuels compared with 5% of women. Knowledge is most widespread among the 16-24 age group - 22% of them know a fair amount/a lot about biofuels.

Biofuels have the potential to deliver significant environmental benefits, and it is this principle that has underpinned UK Government support for them, in the belief that biofuels can deliver considerable net reductions in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels.

When comparing the views of those members of the public who have heard of biofuels with MPs, the parliamentarians seem to be more positive on a number of aspects:

• 55% agree that biofuels will help combat climate change (compared with 69% MPs)
• 57% agree that biofuels are a renewable source of energy (compared with 84% MPs)
• 51% agree that biofuels are a clean source of energy (compared with 63% MPs)

However some issues are regarded with more scepticism, especially among MPs. Across both groups, less than half agree that biofuels are a long term alternative to conventional fuels (members of the public who have heard of biofuels 48%, MPs 46%).

MPs seem to be far more sceptical on the cost effect of biofuels. 66% of MPs agree that biofuels will contribute to an increase in food prices (compared with 33% of the public who have heard of biofuels).

69% MPs agree that biofuels will be more expensive to run in the short-term (compared with 49% of the public who have heard of biofuels).

Contact

Shireen Crowe, Press Office, Tel: 020 7611 6308/M: 07879417177 Steve Cooke, BMRB, Tel: 020 8433 4381 Cara Berry, BPRI, Tel: 020 7261 9990

Editor's Notes

BMRB is one of the leading market research agencies in the UK and a key operating company within the Millward Brown Group which, in turn, is part of Kantar, WPP's insight, information and consultancy division. For more, visit www.bmrb.co.uk

BPRI is a specialist research-based consultancy, and provides insight and recommendations on b2b markets and customers. Businesses and public bodies use our work and people to resolve strategic, marketing and customer issues. We are part of WPP’s global communications network. For more information, visit www.bprigroup.com

Survey Information

BPRI’s omnibus study amongst The Political Opinion Panel was conducted via self-complete questionnaires sent out to MP’s.
BMRB Omnibus: 1000 nationally representative adults aged 16-64 completed an online questionnaire between 21– 24 February 2008.

Key questions were: 1) How familiar are you with the concept of biofuels?

2) To what extent do you agree with the following statements about biofuels?

Bio fuels Will help to combat climate change Bio fuels are a renewable source of energy Bio fuels are a clean source of energy Bio fuels are a long-term alternative to conventional fuel Bio fuels will be more expensive to run in the short-term Bio fuels contribute to an increase in food prices

Online Omnibus Methodology

Respondents are sent an email invitation to complete an online questionnaire. The sample is drawn from a pre-recruited online access panel that is itself recruited from multiple sources. A detailed registration survey is completed by all panellists and the information is kept up to date to ensure that results can be analysed by accurate classifications. Panellists are selected for invitation to a survey on a random basis (with controls). Quota controls are used to ensure that the final sample is made up of the correct proportion of adults in terms of key demographics such as gender and age. The final data is also weighted to ensure that the sample profile is demographically correct. Tried and tested incentives maximise response rates. Contact with respondents is carefully managed to maximise participation without impacting on the reliability of results. The professional maintenance and management of the panel is undertaken by a specialist sister-agency of BMRB’s.

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