Biofuels
Draft EU policy to cut shipping emissions condemned as ‘disaster’
A leaked draft of a key EU policy designed to cut carbon emissions in shipping, one of the world’s biggest polluters, has been described as an environmental disaster for “promoting” liquified natural gas, a fossil fuel, as an alternative to heavy oil. EURACTIV's media partner, The Guardian, reports.
Commission admits fossil fuel share ‘likely’ higher in transport without multipliers
Without multipliers - a statistical methodology used to encourage the uptake of renewable energy in transport, primarily in electric cars - the share of fossil fuels in transport is “likely” to be higher than the official figures published by Eurostat, a European Commission source told EURACTIV.
Will RED III fuel a revolution for renewable energy in road transport?
As part of its ambitious Green Deal roadmap, the European Commission is set to unveil a new package of energy and climate legislation on Bastille Day, 14 July – potentially kicking off a revolution in EU road transport policy. Emmanuel...
Biofuel makers protest against EU’s green investment taxonomy rules
Biofuels made from food-and-feed crops do not meet the EU’s green taxonomy criteria, according to a European Commission proposal, a move biofuel makers said will hamstring Europe's ability to meet green transport goals.
Five EU member states demand stricter oversight of biofuels
Five EU countries have demanded the European Commission establish a framework for stricter supervision of the use of biofuels in the bloc in the wake of a number of cases of fraud relating the sale of used cooking oil of unsustainable origin as transport fuel.
Ethanol boss: electric vehicles are not the future, but part of it
Electric vehicles are not the only future option for the decarbonisation of Europe’s transport sector, but all available sustainable solution should be taken into account, Valérie Corre from the European Renewable Ethanol Association (ePURE) told EURACTIV.com in an interview.
EU farmers chief: Commission is ‘ultra-orthodox’ on biofuels’ sustainability
The European Commission’s insistence on capping conventional biofuels is “ultra-orthodox” as it deprives farmers of a potential market outside the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) while simultaneously hindering agriculture’s environmental potential, the head of EU farmers’ association told EURACTIV in an interview.
Air France uses cooking oil to fly to Canada as green fuel debate rages
Air France-KLM flew a biofuel-powered Airbus A350 from Paris to Montreal on Tuesday (18 May), demonstrating the airline's readiness to adopt low-emissions fuel despite deep industry divisions over the pace of its adoption.
RED III: Europe’s reality check
Transport is responsible for 27% of total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and several pieces of legislation have failed to bring about major changes. The EU executive has already admitted that by 2030, oil will still drive Europe’s cars....
EU’s dismissal of crop-based biofuels will impede transport decarbonisation: industry
The EU's decision to cap the share of crop-based biofuels in the bloc’s energy mix risks hampering efforts to decarbonise the transport sector, industry has warned ahead of the revision of the renewable energy directive.
The Brief, powered by VDMA – The Commission’s happy virtual reality
Europe’s transport decarbonisation has never been an easy task. Transport is responsible for as much as 27% of the total greenhouse gas emissions in the EU and the European Commission admits that by 2030 things will not change dramatically. Several...
Report warns EU about increased imports of palm oil in disguise
A new report has found that the imports of Used Cooking Oil (UCO) intended for the decarbonisation of EU transport are expected to significantly rise. However, the report also called on the EU to put limits on its use, considering its controversial origin and its hidden links to palm oil.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
EU taxonomy: Biofuels must play a role in transition to carbon neutrality
The latest draft delegated act of the sustainable finance regulation goes part of the way to fixing what went wrong with the original text, but it still needs to be more inclusive when it comes to proven sustainable renewable energy solutions, writes the EU Biofuels Chain.
RED II: EU Commission can’t see the wood for the trees, analysts warn
The revision of the Renewable Energy Directive II (RED II) as part of the new Green Deal should recalibrate the legislative initiatives which have so far failed to decarbonise Europe’s transport sector, stakeholders have said.
Minimum wage policies offer a lesson for advancement of farming
It is not the case that any minimum wage is bad. Equally true, it is not the case that any biofuels demand is bad. Empirical evidence finds that a set minimum wage is beneficial for economy and society. Likewise, biofuel demand contributes to advancing farming, writes Zoltán Szabó.
Czech Republic’s transport decarbonisation ‘trapped’ in local politics
Efforts to decarbonise the Czech Republic’s transport through the increased use of bioethanol have fallen prey to local politics, putting the country’s renewable energy goals at risk. EURACTIV Czech Republic reports.
Boeing planning to debut 100% biofuel planes by 2030
Boeing Co has unveiled plans to deliver commercial aircraft capable of using 100% biofuel by 2030. Using existing technologies under current regulations, it can only use biofuel blends of up to 50%.
Malaysia takes WTO legal action against EU over palm biofuel curbs
Malaysia is taking legal action at the global trade watchdog against the European Union and member states France and Lithuania for restricting palm oil-based biofuels, the government said.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
European policy on biofuels is ill-founded and flawed, it should be made good
A decade ago the European Commission decided to exclude conventional biofuels from contributing to future policy on renewable energy, climate and agriculture, writes Benjamin Lammert. Benjamin Lammert is a farmer and president of the Green Energy Platform. The matter is as...
German motoring association pushes for increased ethanol in petrol blending
The German motoring association ADAC has proposed doubling the quota of ethanol’s blending with petrol in car engines from 10% to 20% to achieve higher CO2 savings and eventually contribute to the decarbonisation of the transport sector.OpinionStakeholder Opinion
How renewable fuels in the maritime sector can support a just and inclusive energy transition
In the transport sector, the most cost-efficient climate emission reductions can be made in the maritime segment, write Loes Knotter and Eric van den Heuvel.
New fraud investigation casts doubt over used cooking oil origins
A fresh biofuels fraud investigation in the Netherlands has once again shone a spotlight on the origin of imported used cooking oil (UCO) in the EU.
Policymakers urged to support biofuels to meet transport’s green goals
Governments around the world need to urgently address this year's 11.6% drop in biofuel output, caused by the pandemic, in order to meet transport’s decarbonisation goals, the head of the renewable energy division at the International Energy Agency (IEA) told EURACTIV in an interview.
EU aviation blending mandate needed to green flights, says MEP
Futuristic flight technologies like battery-power and hydrogen are on the radar but sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) are an already-available option that should be utilised more, MEP Elsi Katainen told EURACTIV.Supporters
