European Parliament Approves REDII

by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) On Nov. 13, the European Parliament approved new targets for renewables, energy efficiency and second-generation biofuels when it voted to confirm a provisional agreement reached with the European Council in June on a revised Renewable Energy Directive (REDII).

Members of the parliament voted 495 to 68 to approve a binding target that will require renewables to account for at least 32 percent of the European Union’s gross final energy consumption by 2030. The parliament also voted 434 to 104 to approve an indicative target that will require a 32.5 percent increase in energy efficiency by 2030. A third vote approved governance of the Energy Union by 475 to 100, which will require each member state to present a 10-year integrated national energy and climate plan with national targets, policies and measures by the end of 2019 and every 10 years thereafter. Together the three legislative files are part of the Clean Energy for All Europeans package.

Information released by the European Parliament indicates that the targets for renewables and energy efficiency will be reviewed by 2023. The targets, however, can only be raised. They cannot be lowered.

As part of the package, second generation biofuels must provide at least 14 percent of transportation fuel by 2030. First generation biofuels that are considered to have a high risk for indirect land use change (ILUC), however, will no longer be able to count toward the EU’s renewable energy goals starting in 2030. From 2019 until 2030, the contribution of first generation biofuels to the EU’s energy goals will be gradually phased out.

Once the council formally adopts the deal, the new rules will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and enter into force 20 days after publication. The regulation on governance will be directly applied to all member states. However, member states will have to transpose the new elements of the other two directives into national law within 18 months.

ePURE, the European renewable ethanol association, said the European Parliament’s final adoption of REDII opens the door to a more effective approach to decarbonizing transport, but cautioned it will be up to member states to turn that ambition into action.

“There’s a message here for the European Commission as it prepares to unveil its long-term strategy for emissions reduction,” said Emmanuel Desplechin, secretary-general of ePURE. “Member States and the European Parliament have agreed that sustainable crop-based biofuels like EU ethanol have an important role to play in decarbonization. The new long-term strategy looking to 2050 should reinforce this by acknowledging the importance of both first- and second-generation ethanol. That would send a real signal from Brussels to Member States that the EU is serious about reducing emissions from transport.”

AEBIOM, the European biomass association, said the REDII is good but won’t do enough to decarbonize the EU’s heating and cooling sector.

Additional information is available on the European Parliament website. READ MORE

Excerpt from NGV Journal: Europe needs an open legislative framework that can assess on fair terms all solutions contributing to the decarbonization of the transport sector and achieving air quality goals. To reach the 2030 targets currently under discussion, engine and vehicle technologies, in combination with low carbon and renewable gaseous fuels, will have to play a key role in the heavy-duty sector. But the current CO₂ tailpipe emissions methodology has to be complemented to consider the contribution from advanced bio and renewable gas.

CNG and LNG technologies are mature, affordable, reliable, safe and ready to play a role in the transition towards a clean and sustainable transport system. Renewable natural gas is also an available fuel solution that is ready to play its role today. Biomethane production is already standard practice, and its availability and vehicle fleet is growing fast. Therefore, just before the European Parliament’s final vote on the regulation setting CO₂ emissions standard for new heavy-duty vehicles, NGVA Europe and NGV Italy urge for the inclusion of a new complementary approach.

The heavy-duty transportation sector is expected to play an increasing role in a global economy, while public transport and coaches will have to complement more and more personnel mobility ensuring an increased standard in air quality.

The well-established matchup between conventional engines and oil derived fuels will progressively move towards new solutions. It will have to leverage on clean and renewable fuels such as bio-CNG and bio-LNG to start the decarbonization process today, using the right technical solutions according to different transport needs. CNG and LNG technologies can cover all of them: from urban mobility up to long haulage freight transport. Moreover, renewable gas can be blended with natural gas without additional cost or performance loss.

The use of natural and renewable gas stands on environmental and market opportunities:

NGVA Europe and NGV Italy will continue to ask for an early inclusion of a methodology that can translate technology neutrality into legislation. Renewable gas is ready to play a fundamental role in supporting the decarbonization process of the heavy-duty sector.