Brussels, 19/07/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 19 July the European Commission recognised seven certification bodies which, for the next five years, will check the sustainability of the green fuels imported into the EU. Only once they are certified will the fuels be able to be marketed across the EU.
In 2008, the EU set itself the objective of a minimum share of 10% renewable energy in transport by 2020. Where biofuels are used to achieve this target, they must meet a set of sustainability requirements. In order to receive government funding or count towards compulsory national renewable energy objectives, biofuels used in the EU, whether produced locally or imported from third countries, must not be produced in areas which have a high biodiversity value, such as protected areas, or from areas that store a high amount of carbon, such as forests or peatlands. In practice, this means that biofuels from crops grown on land that used to be rainforest or natural grassland with a unique ecosystem cannot be considered as sustainable. In addition, the greenhouse gas emissions over the whole production chain need to be at least 35% lower compared to fossil fuels. That threshold will increase to 50% by 2017, and to 60% by 2018.
Biofuels producers can choose whether to demonstrate compliance with these sustainability requirements through national systems or by joining a voluntary scheme which is recognised by the Commission. When the Commission has thoroughly checked a scheme against the sustainability requirements and is satisfied that it adequately covers the sustainability requirements of the Renewable Energy Directive, it will give its recognition for five years.
To make sure that tropical forests and carbon rich peatlands are not turned into oil palm or sugarcane plantations and to guarantee that, compared to fossil fuels, biofuels used in the EU deliver tangible greenhouse gas savings, the Commission recognised seven voluntary certification bodies - some from partnerships with the environmental NGO WWF, and others, more strangely, with links to producers. The seven are: - ISCC, a German government-financed scheme covering all types of biofuels; Bonsucro EU, a roundtable initiative for sugarcane-based biofuels, focused mainly on Brazil; - RTRS EU RED, a roundtable initiative for soy-based biofuels, focusing on Argentina and Brazil; - RSB EU RED, a roundtable initiative, covering all types of biofuels; - 2BSvs, a French industry scheme, covering all types of biofuels; - RSBA, an industry scheme for Abengoa, covering their supply chain; - Greenergy, an industry scheme for Greenergy, covering sugar cane ethanol from Brazil. Further certification bodies may be recognised in the near future. (E.H./transl.rt)