Copa and Cogeca, the farming and agri-cooperative organisations in the EU, are against plans to phase out conventional biofuels after 2020 (see EUROPE 11600).
In a press release published on Tuesday 22 November, Copa and Cogeca express concern at provisions in the proposal that the Commission is due to adopt on 30 November, revising Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources.
Conventional biofuels to be reduced from 7% to 3.8% by 2030? According to a draft text of the proposal which EUROPE has seen (but which is likely to be amended in light of inter-service consultations), the Commission is looking to reduce the share of conventional (or first generation) biofuels in transport fuel from 7% in 2021 to 3.8% by 2030. It is also proposing to increase the threshold for advanced (or second generation) biofuels from 1.25% in 2021 to 5.5% by 2030.
Copa and Cogeca argue that the proposal is not realistic. In the 2015 directive (which revises the 2009 directive on renewable energy), the target set for advanced biofuels is 0.5% by 2020. In addition, the directive allows member states to derogate from this reference level where duly justified conditions exist. It is difficult to find advanced biofuels on the market.
Initially, the Commission predicted a level of 10% of biofuels in fossil fuels by 2020. In view of the debate on changes to soil use and of the food crisis in 2008, the Commission proposed (in the 2015 directive revising the 2009 directive) a cap of 7% on conventional biofuels by 2020.
To produce bioethanol (petrol), farmers use maize, wheat or beetroot, and, to produce biodiesel (diesel fuel), they use a mix of oils (rape, sunflower, soya and palm). Second generation biofuels are produced from waste and residues.
According to Copa and Cogeca, phasing out conventional biofuels will “increase the use of fossil fuels, carbon emissions, and cut critical animal feed supplies”.
Copa and Cogeca Secretary General Pekka Pesonen argued that advanced biofuels are still in the very early stages of development and are not yet commercially viable. Copa and Cogeca argue that the conventional biofuel share must be kept at 7% until 2030 with a review clause to take into account the effective scale of advanced biofuels on the market. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)