Advanced Biofuels Are Key to Decarbonising Transportation

by Markus Rarbach (Clariant/EurActiv) The recent agreements on the revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) are setting the tone for creating a stable and predictable business environment that will trigger the development of and investment in advanced biofuel production within the EU. -- The transport sector has one of the highest growth rates worldwide, implying a significant impact on the fuel demand and level of CO2 emissions. In order to meet the international climate commitments and to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), emissions from transport have to be reduced significantly and quickly.

In the EU, a number of directives regulate the use of biofuels, most prominently the “Renewable Energy Directive” (RED). On 30. November 2016, the European Commission presented a proposal for a revision of the Renewable Energy Directive (“RED II”) as part of its package “Clean Energy for All Europeans – unlocking Europe’s growth potential”.

The title of this package implies its objectives: to reduce GHG emissions, create jobs and use cost-efficient solutions. The RED II plays into these goals: In June 2018, negotiators from the European Parliament, Council and Commission agreed on a binding renewable energy target of 32% for the EU for 2030. The agreement also sets a target of 14% for renewables in the transport sector by 2030.

As the EU has recognised the significant role of advanced biofuels in decarbonising transportation and meeting the goals set by the Paris Agreement, RED II sets ambitious targets for advanced biofuels. It creates a mandatory advanced biofuel blending mandate for all EU Member States starting at 0.2% in 2022, increasing to 1% in 2025 and up to 3.5% in 2030. It is up to the Member States to decide whether advanced biofuels will count double towards the fulfillment of these targets. The binding nature of this mandate creates a stable and predictable business environment that supports investments in advanced biofuel production within the EU.

Clariant is spearheading this development: Currently, Clariant is building a new full-scale commercial flagship plant for the production of cellulosic ethanol made from agricultural residues based on the sunliquid® technology. The new plant with an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons cellulosic ethanol will be built in a rural area in the southwest of Romania. At full capacity, it will process 250,000 tons of agricultural residues like cereal straw annually, which will be sourced from local farmers. The use of agricultural residues in the immediate vicinity promotes local fuel production. Furthermore, it creates green jobs and economic growth in predominantly rural areas. READ MORE