ASSESSING THE VIABILITY OF USING RAPE METHYL-ESTER (RME) AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MINERAL DIESEL FUEL FOR POWERING ROAD VEHICLES IN THE UK

Rape methyl ester (RME) is a suitable substitute for mineral diesel in existing compression-ignition engines. Ifs use as an alternative tran sport fuel will result in decreased emissions of atmospheric pollutant s (particularly SO2, hydrocarbons and smoke) from this source. However , to encourage such a trend in the UK, the Government needs to adopt t he European Union's recommendation of a reduction of excise duties on biofuels to 10% of the rate applied to lead-free petrol to ensure its economic short-term competitiveness in the UK market. Such a subsidy w ill not be required by the year 2004. The available resource base for rape-seed oil in the UK limits the production of RME, so it could sati sfy only up to 4% of demand on fuel by road vehicles powered by diesel engines in the UK. This suggests that it should be used preferentiall y in urban areas and waterways where its environmental benefits would be maximised. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.