The European Union (EU) has formally adopted the new Renewable Energy Directive – known as RED II – raising the 2030 target for renewable energy's share of overall EU energy consumption from 32% to 42.5%, as reported by S&P Global .
Member states now have 18 months to adopt the legislation, which sets sub-targets for transport and industry, according to the October 9 report.
The adoption of RED II came after months of negotiations, despite a general agreement in June, following a vote in the Council in which only Poland and Hungary were against, as reported by S&P Global.
“It is a step forward that will contribute to achieving the EU’s climate goals in a fair, cost-effective and competitive way,” said Teresa Ribera, Spain’s interim energy minister, who currently chairs the Council.
European targets for renewable energy and emissions reduction in the transport sector by 2030
In the transport sector, member states can choose between a binding target of reducing 14.5% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions resulting from the use of renewable energy by 2030 or a binding share of 29% of renewable energy in consumption end of energy in transport.
At the time of the report, the share of renewable energy in the transport sector was around 10%, a proportion that has changed little in a decade.
Advanced biofuels (generally derived from non-food feedstocks) had a new mandatory share target of 5.5%. Within this target, there was a minimum requirement of 1% for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) by 2030, according to the report.
The Council of the European Union (EU) also adopted the ReFuelEU regulations – part of the bloc's plan to reduce GHG emissions – in a bid to boost supply and demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the EU, the EU reported. Biodiesel magazine.
According to the report, the ReFuelEU regulations were adopted on October 9 as part of the Fit for 55 package, the EU's plan to reduce GHG emissions by at least 55% by 2030, compared to the 1990 baseline, and reach net zero by 2050.
The new ReFuelEU aviation regulations
“The new law will provide legal certainty for aircraft operators and fuel suppliers in Europe. By starting large-scale production of sustainable aviation fuels, it will soon make the EU aviation sector much greener. This is a fundamental step. It is part of our broad effort to achieve climate goals.” Spain's interim minister of transport, mobility and urban agenda, Raquel Sánchez Jiménez, stated this.
The new ReFuelEU aviation regulations are setting ambitious targets. By 2025, the EU wants airports and fuel suppliers to ensure that at least 2% of aviation fuels are “green”. This implies a significant transition to sustainable energy sources in aviation. The requirement would increase to 6% in 2030, 20% in 2035, 34% in 2040, 42% in 2045 and 70% in 2050.
The October 10 report stated that as part of the rules, the fuel mix must be made up of a proportion of synthetic fuels such as e-kerosene. The requirement for synthetic fuels has been set at 1.2% in 2030, 2% in 2032, 5% in 2035 and will reach 35% in 2050.
ReFuelEU rules define SAF. This includes synthetic fuels and certain biofuels. They are produced from agricultural or forestry residues, algae, bio-waste, used cooking oil and specific animal fats. Recycled jet fuels produced from waste gases and plastic waste are also considered “green.”
European rules for biofuels and flight labeling – ReFuelEU
Additionally, renewable hydrogen is an eligible fuel for the program.
However, SAF produced from feed and food raw materials, including palm and soy materials, is not included in the program.
The European Parliament has released information stating that the ReFuelEU initiative cannot classify these crop-based biofuels as “green”. This is due to the lack of compliance with sustainability criteria.
In addition to establishing SAF mandates, the ReFuelEU initiative also created a new flight labeling program, as Biodiesel magazine reported.
EU label for flight environmental performance arrives in 2025
From 2025, there will, after all, be an EU label for flight performance. Airlines will be able to market their flights with a label indicating the expected carbon footprint/passenger and CO2 efficiency/km.
The labeling program, after all, would help passengers compare the environmental performance of flights operated by different companies on the same route, according to the report. The development of the initiative has been underway for over a year. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) previously adopted draft rules for ReFuelEU in July 2022.
In April, the European Parliament thus reached a political agreement on the ReFuelEU proposal. On September 13, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved the regulations, currently.
Following formal adoption by the EU Council, the new regulations would come into force on the twentieth day after publication in the official journal. This would occur, however, on January 1, 2024.
From January 1, 2025, we will still apply some elements of the new regulations, including the labeling requirement.
Source: Oils & Fats International
