Biofuels election promise, a renewed mandate for renewables

Voters deeply concerned with living costs and climate change are being offered a voice by the European Biodiesel Board, it’s calling for a balanced, inclusive, and affordable climate policy in line with the EU’s net zero by 2050 goal.

The European Biodiesel Board (EBB) recently released a European election manifesto, setting out its view of legislative priorities for the 2024-2029 term, emphasizing the role of domestic sustainable biofuels in achieving a low-carbon transport sector.

Speaking at the launch of the Manifesto, Xavier Noyon, Secretary General of EBB said: “In the run-up to the European elections, sustainability will be one of the most important topics for elected officials. The biggest challenge remains the decarbonization of transport, as the need for transport continues to grow. Biofuels, sourced from sustainable bio-products, continue to be the widest and most available alternative to fossil fuels.”

The EBB argues for a strategic review of bio-based raw materials in Europe, a revision of the waste biofuels contribution limit to the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) transport target, recognition of the benefits of crop-based biodiesel, and alignment of the EU Taxonomy with the RED to promote sustainable biodiesel investments.

The Board called for a comprehensive vision for renewable fuels beyond 2030, an attractive and harmonised taxation policy to shift demand from fossil diesel to renewable fuels, and revised CO2 emission standards for new vehicles to recognise the role of all renewable fuels in decarbonising transport.

It also urged strict enforcement of trade defence measures against dumping and unfair subsidies, and a review of the sustainability verification regime in the RED to ensure imports comply with the same strict certification criteria as European biofuels.

Parliament positive on biofuels

The European Parliament’s current position on biofuels has been largely positive, but the policy picture has been complicated by concerns regarding a sharp increase in biodiesel imports from China since 2023.

These imports are reportedly adulterated fuels, falsely labelled and certified as advanced biofuels, even though they do not meet EU standards. This has led to market distortion and significant losses for EU biofuel producers – an anti-dumping investigation was launched by the European Commission.

The impact of these imports has been so severe that it led to the closure of production sites in several member states. If dumping is confirmed and is found to be harming EU producers, the Commission may impose measures, typically duties on imports, to remedy the effects of the unfair trading.

Biodiesel and climate goals

Ahead of the European Parliament elections, the EP recognizes the role of biodiesel in achieving the EU’s climate goals, but it also acknowledges the need for stricter regulations and diversification into other types of biofuels and alternative fuels.

In terms of regulation, the revised version of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) contains binding requirements that limit first-generation biofuels based on biomass to a maximum of 7%; and biofuels produced from UCO and animal waste fats are currently limited to a share of 1.7% in 2030, and the inclusion of additional raw-material sources is currently the subject of ongoing debate.

While the blending quotas for traditional biofuels are not being increased, and a B7 protection class will even be established by 2030, the new Refuelled aviation regulation will force the aviation industry to reduce its GHG emissions.

The share of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) is expected to gradually increase from 2% in 2025 to 20% in 2035 and up to 70% in 2050, while new a group of alternative fuels, renewable fuels of nonbiological origin (RFNBO)‚ which includes hydrogen and all eFuels, will likely see their share within this advanced biofuel group reach at least 1% by 2030.

Primary source of renewable energy

Global biodiesel production has seen significant growth, especially between 2000 and 2020. Bioenergy, derived from agricultural, forestry, and organic waste feedstock, remains the primary source of renewable energy in the European Union (EU), accounting for approximately 59% of renewable energy consumption in 2021.

Edgar Ahn, Chief Innovation Officer, BDI-BioEnergy International GmbH argues in BioBased Diesel Daily that: “By expanding the permissible range of raw materials to include ‘non-food crops’ and ‘intermediate crops’, the amount of oil required to expand biodiesel production in the future could be multiplied without jeopardizing food production or misusing valuable agricultural land.”

A European Commission report on bioenergy sustainability, published as part of the 2023 State of the Energy Union Report, reveals that primary solid biofuels (70.3%) constitute the largest share of bioenergy, followed by liquid biofuels (12.9%), biogas/biomethane (10.1%), and the renewable share of municipal waste (6.6%)

Kadri Simson, Commissioner for Energy, emphasized the EU’s commitment to transitioning from natural gas to cleaner alternatives such as biomethane, renewable hydrogen, biogas, and e-gases.

The recent energy crisis, exacerbated by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, underscores the urgency of this transformation. While progress has been made, Simson stressed the need for further action.

The report also highlights the measures taken by most Member States to promote biogas and biomethane, aligning with the Commission’s REPowerEU plan to accelerate the production of sustainably-produced biomethane.

Reducing fossil dependence

This strategy aims to reduce the EU’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. Indigenous biogas production in the EU increased by 1.7% in 2021, reaching 14.9 million tonnes of oil equivalent (mtoe). Germany remained the largest producer, followed by Italy and France.

According to the Commission, solid biomass supply, which primarily consists of woody biomass/forest biomass (66%), biomass from organic waste (26%), and agricultural biomass (8%).

The primary supply of solid biomass in the EU has increased by 33.5% since 2008. The most significant growth in indigenous production of solid biomass during this period has been in the use of wood pellets and animal waste.

Regarding heating and cooling, biomass fuels and bioliquids were used to produce 17.3 mtoe of gross heat in the EU in 2021, primarily using solid biomass (76.0%), followed by renewable municipal waste (18.1%) and biogases (5.0%).

In the electricity sector, biomass fuels and bioliquids were used to generate 14.6 mtoe of gross electricity in 2021, constituting 15% of the total gross renewable electricity mix and 6% of the total gross electricity. Much of this electricity was produced in combined heat and power plants, mainly from solid biomass, biogases, and renewable municipal waste.

In the transport sector, the use of advanced biofuels and other biofuels produced from feedstock listed in Annex IX of the Renewable Energy Directive has significantly increased.

Overall, the final consumption of biofuels has risen by 39% since 2013, with biodiesel now accounting for roughly 80% of total biofuel consumption in the transport sector.

So, if the new Parliament is to deliver on the cost of living and climate promises, biofuels will need to be at the heart of Europe’s strategy. A renewed mandate for renewables seems likely.

[By Brian Maguire | Euractiv’s Advocacy Lab ]

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