On 14 July, the European Commission will present a proposal for a Regulation revising the Directive (2014/94), which provides a framework for the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels, in order to enable the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (see EUROPE 12711/18).
In the document, a copy of which was obtained by EUROPE, the Commission first emphasises the mandatory national targets for such infrastructure, which will have to be used to power road vehicles, ships and aircraft.
Thus, in addition to broadening the definitions contained in the text already in force, the European Commission intends to oblige Member States to ensure a minimum coverage in terms of publicly accessible recharging points for light and heavy road transport on their territory, including within the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T).
An increasing number of kilowatts produced by recharging stations will have to be reached by the end of each year for light electric vehicles. A threshold will have to be set, depending on the number of electric and hybrid vehicles registered in the country.
A network of recharging points with a maximum spacing distance - and taking into account borders - should be finalised by 2025.
The same applies to hydrogen for heavy and light vehicles, where minimum requirements will be set. A minimum number of stations will be required by 2030.
Member States will also have to take measures for network coverage of liquefied natural gas for heavy duty vehicles.
For each of these energies, Member States will have to “ensure the user-friendliness of the infrastructure on their territory”, says the Commission’s draft document. To this end, provisions will be introduced on “payment options, price transparency, consumer information and non-discriminatory practices”, the text states.
Electricity supply by 2030 in seaports
Member States will also have to ensure a minimum supply of shore-side electricity in seaports by 2030.
For inland navigation, ports will have to set up the necessary charging infrastructure by 2025 for the core TEN-T network and 2030 for the overall TEN-T network.
Thresholds, calculated on the average number of calls, container ships or passenger ships received over the last 3 years, should be used to provide a proportion (the figure, expressed as a percentage, has not yet been defined) of the ships with energy.
The proposed Regulation provides for a number of exemptions to the setting of these thresholds, such as calls of less than 2 hours, calls made by ships using zero-emission technologies or calls made for safety and rescue at sea.
The future Regulation will not stop at road and maritime transport, but will also push Member States towards a green transition in the air transport sector.
Airports in the core and global TEN-T network must be able to supply electricity to aircraft parked on their territory by 2025, and this electricity must come from clean, renewable sources by 2030.
Monitoring required of Member States
Member States will be required to follow up and will initially have one year from the 20th day of publication of the Regulation in the Official Journal of the EU to prepare and send to the Commission their draft national policy framework for the development of the market for alternative fuels and the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.
In addition to an assessment of the current situation, these plans will have to define, among other things, national targets and objectives, policies to achieve them and measures to promote cleaner transport.
Member States will have to submit a first progress report on the implementation of their national policy frameworks to the Commission by 1 January 2027. The process should then be repeated every 3 years.
This Regulation on the use of alternative fuels is part of the ‘Fit For 55’ package which aims to achieve a net reduction of 55% in EU greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
In addition to the section dedicated to alternative fuels and the deployment of the infrastructure needed for them, the European Commission will also present its proposals for revisions to a series of legislative texts (see EUROPE 12759/2).
See the draft regulation: https://bit.ly/3hviWG4 (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)