Euractiv.com Est. 1min 24-03-2023 (updated: 01-02-2024 ) Content-Type: Sponsored By Sponsored By An organization or individual has paid to be connected to this work but did not approve or review it. The biofuel industry, for its part, insists that European renewable ethanol saves today, on average, 77% GHG emissions compared to fossil fuel and could be a viable solution to the decarbonisation of EU road transport. [Shutterstock/Joseph Kreiss] Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | Deutsch | Polski | Czech | SpanishPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Contrary to countries outside Europe, such as Brazil and India, who are scaling up the production of biofuels to decarbonise transport, the European Commission has decided to gradually phase out biofuels, citing environmental concerns. The biofuel industry, for its part, insists that European renewable ethanol saves today, on average, 77% GHG emissions compared to fossil fuel and could be a viable solution to the decarbonisation of EU road transport. The industry also stresses that ethanol could help Europe boost its food security and independence as a domestic source of protein for animal feed, which EU biofuel production provides. On the other hand, several NGOs say this leads to food price hikes and also question biofuels’ carbon footprint. In this EU Special Report, Euractiv examines the different aspects of biofuel production and to what extent it could play a role in the ongoing debate over banning fossil fuel cars after 2035. Download PDF Biofuels industry criticises ‘inconsistent’ transport decarbonisation policy News | Biofuels 25-10-2023 Est. 5minNew EU rules to green the maritime and aviation sectors prohibit the use of crop-based biofuels on sustainability grounds, though the same fuels play a major role in decarbonising the bloc’s vehicle fleet. Commission sees crop biofuels’ clean transport value, but outside EU News | Biofuels 13-06-2023 Est. 5minThe European Commission has recognised the role of crop-based biofuels in decarbonising transport, despite pushing through legislation for their phase-out domestically. French study boosts ethanol in road transport decarbonisation debate News | Biofuels 24-03-2023 Est. 5minA new French study has found that hybrid vehicles running with up to 85% renewable ethanol (E85) are just as climate-friendly as electric vehicles if the “full-life-cycle” argument is taken into account. Fuels industry urges EU countries to finalise dormant energy tax overhaul News | Fuels 09-11-2023 Est. 5minThe EU’s energy taxation directive (ETD), a proposal to bring energy tax rules in line with the bloc’s green goals, remains at a standstill more than two years after it was first proposed. Ethanol stakeholder: EU needs more pragmatic approach to biofuels Video | Energy & Environment 25-01-2024 The EU will be able to reach its energy goals and reduce CO2 emissions as long as policy makers take a “more pragmatic” and science-based approach when it comes to biofuels, Valérie Corre, President of the European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE), told Euractiv in an interview. “I believe that we need to have much more pragmatism in our decision making process, looking at facts and science and not let dogmatism in the way. Because when you take a dogmatic approach, you are missing the pointn […] you are killing opportunities that are really at our disposal to act today as we speak”, she said.
