According to the latest report from EurObserv’ER, growth in biofuel consumption has slowed in the EU because of economic crisis and pending legislation. Between 2011-13 biofuel consumption grew at 2.9% to 14.4 million metric tons – a drop in consumption of 5.3% from 2010-11. In 2012 biodiesel accounted for 79.1% of total energy content consumption in the EU with ethanol at 19.9%. There is currently pending legislation in the EU that would cut first generation biofuel usage from the current 10% to a cap of 5.5% and which incorporates indirect land usage changes into energy policy. France was the EU’s top biodiesel user in 2012 consuming approximately 690 million gallons with the UK consuming 167.4 million gallons – an amount which is down 31% from the UK’s 2011 usage because of legislative changes.
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