16 March 2010: Nobuo Tanaka, International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director, delivered a presentation comparing the potential of biofuels in business-as-usual and reduced emissions scenarios at the World Biofuels Markets Conference 2010, which took place from 15-17 March 2010, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Tanaka focused on future energy challenges, including increasing demand and climate change, and underscored the importance of alternative sources of energy to confront these issues. He highlighted IEA’s prediction that, although personal automobiles can move more towards hybridization and full electrification, heavy trucks, ships and aircraft will not be able to benefit as much from these technologies and will require a lower carbon diesel replacement to reduce emissions.
Tanaka then focused on building an adequate second-generation biofuels industry, stressing the need to overcome: poor infrastructure; a lack of skilled labor; limited financial resources; and a lack of preparation for a smooth transition from first to second-generation fuels. His presentation drew from the February 2010 IEA publication titled “Sustainable Production of Second-Generation Biofuels.” [The Presentation] [Biofuels Report] [Climate Change Policy & Practice Story on the Release of the Biofuels Report]