30.11.2016, 17:57
European Commission confirms food biofuels phase-out
OREANDA-NEWS. The European Commission today confirmed the gradual phase-out of food-based biofuels from 7pc in 2021 to 3.8pc in 2030. The proposed revision of the EU's renewables directive aims to phase in advanced biofuels from 1.5pc in 2021 to 3.6pc in 2030.
The specific advanced biofuels target would be part of a wider renewables transport goal, increasing to 6.8pc in 2030. The commission would allow EU member states to set a lower cap on food-based biofuels and differentiate between bio-diesel and bio-ethanol. Double counting of specific biofuels would generally end, although biofuels supplied in the aviation and maritime sector would be considered to be 1.2 times their energy content.
Advanced biofuels will also have to make at least 70pc GHG savings from January 2021 and at least 85pc for installations starting operation after 1 January 2026.
"Clearly our objective is to gradually phase out first generation food-based biofuels. We also promise to gradually phase in advanced biofuels. This is what we are promising to do," energy union commissioner Maros Sefcovic told Argus.
Sefcovic said the EU needs to respect current rules, regulatory stability and technological advance. But he was clear that there should be no subsidies in the next decade from 2020.
According to the European Biodiesel Board (EBB), the ending of subsidies and exclusion from a general renewables blending mandate would pose great difficulties for the biofuels sector when competing with fossil fuels.
Specific targets and conditions may change during negotiations between the European Parliament and EU member states on the final legal text of the revised renewables directive.
EBB secretary general Raffaello Garofalo criticised the exclusion of conventional biofuels from the blending mandate for EU fuel suppliers.
"This exclusion would likely mean an increase of fossil fuels in transport due to lack of availability of advanced biofuels," Garofalo said. The EBB also called for the EU to reverse the proposal's aim to give delegated power to EU member states to differentiate between biodiesel and bioethanol.
"Ethanol is a low carbon fuel," said European renewable ethanol association (ePURE) secretary general Robert Wright. He called the phase-out a "purely political" decision.
"The biofuel sector feels betrayed by the commission because of its complete disregard for the investments made in good faith on the basis of EU policy," ePURE Wright said. The association said conventional ethanol produced in Europe has greenhouse gas (GHG) savings of 64pc compared to petrol. It said the proposal goes against the EU Treaty which gives member states the power to decide upon their own renewable energy mix.
The specific advanced biofuels target would be part of a wider renewables transport goal, increasing to 6.8pc in 2030. The commission would allow EU member states to set a lower cap on food-based biofuels and differentiate between bio-diesel and bio-ethanol. Double counting of specific biofuels would generally end, although biofuels supplied in the aviation and maritime sector would be considered to be 1.2 times their energy content.
Advanced biofuels will also have to make at least 70pc GHG savings from January 2021 and at least 85pc for installations starting operation after 1 January 2026.
"Clearly our objective is to gradually phase out first generation food-based biofuels. We also promise to gradually phase in advanced biofuels. This is what we are promising to do," energy union commissioner Maros Sefcovic told Argus.
Sefcovic said the EU needs to respect current rules, regulatory stability and technological advance. But he was clear that there should be no subsidies in the next decade from 2020.
According to the European Biodiesel Board (EBB), the ending of subsidies and exclusion from a general renewables blending mandate would pose great difficulties for the biofuels sector when competing with fossil fuels.
Specific targets and conditions may change during negotiations between the European Parliament and EU member states on the final legal text of the revised renewables directive.
EBB secretary general Raffaello Garofalo criticised the exclusion of conventional biofuels from the blending mandate for EU fuel suppliers.
"This exclusion would likely mean an increase of fossil fuels in transport due to lack of availability of advanced biofuels," Garofalo said. The EBB also called for the EU to reverse the proposal's aim to give delegated power to EU member states to differentiate between biodiesel and bioethanol.
"Ethanol is a low carbon fuel," said European renewable ethanol association (ePURE) secretary general Robert Wright. He called the phase-out a "purely political" decision.
"The biofuel sector feels betrayed by the commission because of its complete disregard for the investments made in good faith on the basis of EU policy," ePURE Wright said. The association said conventional ethanol produced in Europe has greenhouse gas (GHG) savings of 64pc compared to petrol. It said the proposal goes against the EU Treaty which gives member states the power to decide upon their own renewable energy mix.
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