EU lawmakers to stop biofuels, that compete with food, from fuelling planes
The European Parliament has barred the use of controversial biofuel feedstocks, including intermediate crops and palm oil by-products (PFADs), from Europe’s aviation “green” fuel mandate (ReFuelEU). Environmental NGO, “Transport & Environment” (T&E) has asked the 3 main European institutions – the Parliament, the Council and the Commission – to keep the momentum going by excluding the last remaining problematic feedstock – animal fats (of the third category) – in their upcoming negotiations in September. Matteo Mirolo, T&E aviation policy officer, said: “Sustainable aviation fuels should have no link whatsoever to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and increasing food prices.” Excluding these feedstocks from the definition was an important step to avoid devastating consequences for the climate. But animal fats remain included in the definition of what constitutes a green fuel in Europe. Animal fats are by-products of the animal slaughter process. They are used in competing industries, creating shortages in sectors that already use them. T&E support the use of electro-fuels.
.
Tweet
EU lawmakers stop controversial biofuels from fuelling planes
JULY 7, 2022 (Transport & Environment – T&E)
In a narrow vote, the European Parliament paved the way for the uptake of green fuels in planes.
The European Parliament has barred the use of controversial biofuel feedstocks, including intermediate crops and palm oil by-products (PFADs), from Europe’s aviation green fuel mandate (ReFuelEU).
Green group Transport & Environment (T&E) calls upon the three main European institutions – the Parliament, the Council and the Commission – to keep the momentum going by excluding the last remaining problematic feedstock – animal fats (of the third category) – in their upcoming negotiations in September.
Matteo Mirolo, aviation policy officer, says: “If we are serious about fighting climate change and decarbonising aviation, Europe needs to make more choices like the one we witnessed today. Sustainable aviation fuels should have no link whatsoever to deforestation, loss of biodiversity and increasing food prices. Today, EU lawmakers have gone a good way towards a definition of SAFs that is positive for our planet and the credibility of aviation’s green future.”
On the table was a proposal that would have expanded the definition of sustainable fuels, to include palm oil by-products PFADs and intermediate crops (1). In an unprecedented move, airlines and green groups, with easyJet’s support, wrote to MEPs ahead of the vote to draw attention to the issues with palm oil by-products and biofuels in aviation. Excluding these feedstocks from the definition was an important step to avoid devastating consequences for the climate.
Animal fats (of the third category), however, still remain included in the definition of what constitutes a green fuel in Europe. Animal fats are by-products of the animal slaughter process. They are used in competing industries, creating shortages in sectors that already use them. Palm oil is very often the chosen substitute for animal fats, leading to negative impacts on global land use change and emissions, as well biodiversity.
Most importantly, the European Parliament showed preference for synthetic fuels over biofuels. They are the only fuels that can be sustainably scaled up to reduce aviation’s climate impact, T&E says. Lawmakers tripled the synthetic fuel volumes proposed by the Commission for 2030 and decided that in 2050, half of the total jet fuel use in Europe will be synthetic. The main synthetic fuel available now is e-kerosene, generated by combining green hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). An ambitious mandate for e-kerosene will spur investment in the fuel, in a market where Europe is already a leader.
The Parliament also expanded the definition of synthetic aviation fuels to renewable electricity and green hydrogen. This momentous decision shows that the EU wants to incentivise and accelerate the development of zero-emission aircraft.
Amid discussions on fuel types, mitigating non-CO₂ effects of aviation made it into the final text. Non-CO₂ emissions account for two thirds of aviation’s climate impact, but efforts to legislate them in the past were unsuccessful. Today, the Parliament paved the way to finally regulate the quality of the fuel to ensure it has lower aromatic concentrations and sulfur content. This will be a significant step to reduce the non-CO2 climate impacts in aviation, but also to improve air quality around airports, T&E says.
Mirolo concluded: “The European Parliament doubled down on synthetic fuels for aviation and left no room for diversion into harmful biofuels from palm oil by-products and crops. Decarbonising the aviation sector is no easy task, but airlines, environmentalists and politics alike have sided with the needs of the planet. Let’s now close off this deal by excluding all remaining unsustainable biofuels.”
Note to editors:
(1) Intermediate crops are crops planted before or after the main crop, in the intermediate season
.
JULY 13, 2022
What next for the Renewable Energy Directive?
The European Parliament’s ITRE committee votes in favour of phasing out of the worst biofuels and support for more sustainable alternatives. But there is not enough action to stop burning food for fuel with the plenary vote to come in September
The Environment Committee (ENVI) of the European Parliament (EP) adopted their report on the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) on 17 May where they sent a clear signal to choose food over fuel in times of a global food crisis. The RED now moved to the main committee in charge of its revision in the EP, the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) that voted on their report on 13 July. T&E compares the results of the two reports and look at the broader implications of the ITRE vote for the further negotiations on the RED.
Download the briefing
https://www.transportenvironment.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/TE-fit-for-55-ITRECommittee-Votes-RED.pdf
=========
Fit for 55: Parliament pushes for greener aviation fuels
- Electricity and hydrogen should be part of new fuel mix
- Create a Sustainable Aviation Fund to encourage investment in cleaner technologies
Used cooking oil, synthetic fuel or even hydrogen should gradually become the norm as aviation fuel to help EU become climate neutral by 2050, said MEPs on Thursday.
Parliament adopted its position on new draft EU rules to increase the uptake of sustainable fuels by EU planes and airports, in order to cut emissions from aviation and ensure Europe becomes climate neutral by 2050.
Accelerated introduction of sustainable fuels
MEPs increased the Commission’s original proposal for the minimum share of a sustainable aviation fuel that should be made available at EU airports. From 2025, this share should be 2%, increasing to 37% in 2040 and 85% by 2050, taking into account the potential of electricity and hydrogen in the overall fuel mix (Commission proposed 32% for 2040 and 63% for 2050).
More types of sustainable fuel, including electricity and hydrogen
Parliament amended the proposed definition of sustainable aviation fuel, a term that covers synthetic fuels or certain biofuels, produced from agricultural or forestry residues, algae, bio-waste or used cooking oil.
MEPs included under their definition recycled carbon fuels produced from waste processing gas, and exhaust gas deriving from production process in industrial installations. They also suggested some biofuels, produced from animal fats or distillates, could be included in the aviation fuel mix for a limited time (until 2034).
However, MEPs excluded feed and food crop-based fuels, and those derived from palm oil, soy-derived materials and soap stock, because they do not align with the proposed sustainability criteria.
MEPs also included renewable electricity and hydrogen as part of a sustainable fuel mix, as both are promising technologies that could progressively contribute to the decarbonisation of air transport. According to the draft rules, EU airports should facilitate the access of aircraft operators to sustainable aviation fuels, including with infrastructure for hydrogen refuelling and electric recharging.
New fund and green labelling
Parliament proposed the creation of a Sustainable Aviation Fund from 2023 to 2050 to accelerate the decarbonisation of the aviation sector and support investment in sustainable aviation fuels, innovative aircraft propulsion technologies, and research for new engines. The Fund would be supplemented by penalties generated by the enforcement of these rules.
In order to further promote the decarbonisation of the aviation sector and to inform the public about greener aviation, MEPs tasked the Commission with developing by 2024 an EU labelling system on the environmental performance of aircrafts, operators and commercial flights.
Quote
EP rapporteur Søren Gade (Renew, DK) said: “Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise. Today we showed how to do this and sent a strong and ambitious signal to the citizens of Europe. We heard you when you called for climate action, and we are working as much as we can to achieve a truly green Europe.”
Next steps
The negotiating mandate was adopted by 334 votes to 95 and 153 abstentions. Parliament is now ready to start negotiations with member states.
Background information
Civil aviation accounts for 13,4% of total CO2 emissions from EU transport. The ReFuelEU Aviation initiative is part of the “Fit for 55 in 2030 package”, the EU’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, in line with the European Climate Law.
.
.
.