The Digest’s Exclusive Q&A with Clariant/ Enviral: Decarbonization, EU Transport, Slovakia Project, Biofuels Developments and More

by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... The European Commission presented its 2030 Climate Target Plan in mid-September, raising the EU’s ambition to reduce GHG emissions to at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030. The plan is seen as bridging to the EU’s decisive goal to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The Digest spoke to Christian Librera, Vice President and Head of Clariant’s Business Line Biofuels and Derivatives, and Robert Spišák, Chairman of the Board of Envien Group to capture their view on the necessary measures that need to be taken in the near and midterm.

Christian Librera: The decarbonization of the EU’s transport sector has been a major year-long issue, particularly in road transport that is almost entirely dependent on fossil fuels. The strong growth in transport volumes over the last 25 years has led to an increase in GHG emissions from this sector, although drive technologies’ efficiency has improved. To meet the GHG savings targets for 2030 and beyond, a broad portfolio of technology solutions is imperative. Not one measure alone will combat climate change, neither from a technology perspective, nor from a supply potential. The share of electromobility in new vehicle registrations will rise continuously and significantly in the next decade. However, as studies, e.g., from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) show, vehicles with combustion engines will still account for the majority share of the vehicle population in 2030 and, most likely, hereafter. We need a strong and stable framework that supports a broad portfolio of mobility solutions. Therefore, a key focus of the EU’s transport and future mobility policies should be on those technologies that can immediately be used in today’s existing fueling infrastructure without any additional measurement or investments: sustainable, advanced biofuels, e.g., cellulosic ethanol. They provide a low-emission solution already today.

Robert Spišák: Transport won’t be able to change as fast as the politicians wish. To commercialize today`s innovations takes substantial time, up to 10 years. The setting of ambitious goals and strategies from Brussels’ perspective shows the direction of the current establishment’s policy. But from the practical point of view and bearing the technological status quo in mind, the goal defined without clear and stable application guides and precise vision seems more than ambitious.

Transport represents about a third of all emissions. Many countries, including Slovakia, have not reached emission savings from fuels at the targeted level of 6% by 2020 so far, and the same is expected with the 10% renewables transport target. This situation results from the constant change of the rules applied. Member States have to meet the targets, but at the same time, they got restrictions and limits added to the game during the time, which undermine investor´s security significantly.

The European Commission likes to play its favorites, in 2009 it was biofuels, in 2016 electrification, now it`s hydrogen, but we need every tool in the toolbox to reach the ambitious goals.

We need all the energy sources in parallel, not only one at a time. The same stable conditions and requirements shall be applied for all of them, no fashion.

Christian Librera: Yes, RED II sets the right direction by enabling advanced biofuels to contribute to the decarbonization of EU transport. It fosters the proliferation of advanced biofuels as it defines an advanced biofuels target outlined in Annex IX, part A that will reach 3.5% by 2030. This means that the demand of 5 to 10 Mio. tons of advanced biofuels need to be met across Europe in 2030. What is absolute key now is the swift and ambitious transposition of RED II in the member states, especially for the advanced biofuels target.

With the current revision, the 3.5% advanced biofuels target should omit the instrument of double counting and multipliers of any renewable energy source, as they artificially inflate the achievements without generating “real” GHG savings.

Robert Spišák: We clearly support a 14% renewable energy target in 2030, which will be most likely even increased, based on the ambitious climate target. However, the devil lies in the details at the Member States level and in the implementation itself. As consultations on further changes of RED II are already underway, it is essential to underline the vivid need to keep the legislative framework for all alternatives stable from a long-term perspective. Watching the process from the investor`s side, we look for predictability, easy rules, clear wording, and less limits for the Member States to be able to use the best domestic capacities and resources, whether conventional or advanced but sustainable. All renewable energies produced sustainably should be counted towards the goal without multipliers, which only artificially inflates the effort and does not solve the real problem.

Christian Librera: Over the past four years we have announced six cellulosic ethanol projects in the EU and China – our own flagship plant in Romania and five technology license projects in Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, and China. Our first-of-its-kind commercial-scale production plant in Podari, in the Southwest of Romania, has made significant progress over the past months. With the majority of large key equipment installed, this puts us on track to complete the construction by the end of 2021, after which start-up and production will begin.

Besides that, we are continually broadening our feedstock portfolio that is tested in our pre-commercial plant in Straubing, Germany. Up till now, approx. 30 different feedstocks from around the world have been tested, and with each new regional market we enter, new feedstocks are added. And the third dimension is broadening the product portfolio. As sunliquid is a very versatile technology platform going beyond the production of cellulosic ethanol, our cellulosic sugars can act as a building block for a wide range of biochemical intermediates.

Robert Spišák: Envien Group is deeply involved in renewable innovation, having its own R&D center. Our hands are on improving existing production standards and plans to optimize the implementation of new waste-based biofuel production and advanced biofuel production projects to our pool. The new waste-based biodiesel line will start its full operation in the second half of this year. READ MORE