Finland Sets World-Leading 30% Biofuel Obligation for 2030

(UPM) The Finnish Parliament has yesterday 6 February 2019 approved a law that sets a gradually increasing 30% biofuels target for 2030. Furthermore, the law sets a world-leading advanced biofuels target of 10% in 2030.

UPM welcomes the Finnish government's ambition to take transport decarbonisation seriously:

"UPM is a leading producer of advanced biofuels as defined by the EU Renewable Energy Directive, and we consider this move by Finland as a bold step forward in setting concrete measures for transport decarbonisation," says Sari Mannonen, Vice President, UPM Biofuels.

UPM produces wood-based UPM BioVerno renewable diesel at the Lappeenranta Biorefinery in Finland. UPM is also studying opportunities for growth in the biofuels industry and has recently concluded an environmental impact assessment for a potential 500,000 t/a biorefinery in Kotka, Finland.

"We salute the decision by the Finnish parliament and welcome the fact that many other countries, such as Sweden and Norway, are also walking the talk on climate change mitigation in the transport sector," says Marko Janhunen, Director, Public Affairs, UPM.

"Transport decarbonisation requires utilization of the whole toolbox - we need all financially and technologically feasible means from sustainable biofuels to electrification and engine efficiency improvements to be deployed," Janhunen concludes. READ MORE

Excerpt from NGV Journal/Gasum: The number of natural gas cars increased again in Finland. There were several factors behind natural gas being more commonly used as a fuel, such as willingness to reduce CO2 emissions from transport and the highly popular campaign offering biogas at a fixed price.

The Transport Climate Policy working group under the Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications also highlighted biogas as a significant element of the solution for greenhouse gas emission cuts,” added Kuoppala (Heidi Kuoppala, Sales Manager, Traffic, from Gasum). READ MORE

Excerpt from Biomass Magazine: On Feb. 6, the Parliament of Finland voted in favor of a law that aims to require transportation fuel to be comprised of 30 percent biofuel by 2030, with advanced biofuels accounting for 10 percent of transportation fuel by the same year. The requirements for transportation fuel would ramp up starting in 2021.

According to information released by the government, the law would also require biofuel to make up a portion of light fuel oil used for heating, machinery and fixed engines. That requirement would also begin in 2021 and increase through 2028, when it would reach 10 percent. READ MORE