Germany has approved new biofuel laws which change the direction taken by the country’s previous coalition government. The previous government was intending to phase out the use of food and animal feed as biofuel ingredients.
However, with the change of government following Germany’s most recent general election in February, a change of biofuel policy has followed.
Under the plans approved in December, food and animal feed can continue to be used as ingredients in biofuel. This means that the likes of rapeseed oil, waste vegetable oils and grains or sugar can continue to be used in its production.
Biofuels have become an important avenue for fossil fuel companies looking to decarbonise in the country and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, with biodiesel eligible to count towards their reduction targets.
One change that has remained in the new legislation is banning the use of palm oil in the production of biofuels due to concerns over the impact its cultivation has on sensitive habitats elsewhere in the world.
What’s happening with biofuels in the rest of Europe?
This new German legislation comes just weeks after it was revealed the European Commission is intending to rely heavily on increased use of biofuels to reduce emissions in heavy industry transport sectors such as maritime and aviation.
Sharing details from a leaked report, Euronews revealed that the new bioenergy strategy from the bloc will focus on replacing fossil fuels with biofuels in sectors that are responsible for a considerable percentage of the region’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Proposals include increasing the use of crops and trees for biofuel production, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions considerably. However, one stumbling block is that the EU is not able to produce enough biomass to meet its needs.
But there are some innovations in the pipeline that could make biofuels on a mass scale more viable for the region.
What innovations could boost biofuel production?
A report published by the European Environment Agency (EEA) earlier this year highlighted several potential biomass sources that could help deliver the amount of biomass required to meet the EU’s growing biofuel demands.
Among them are projects focusing on using biomass from sources such as:
- Fishery waste. This could include fish bones and scales, all of which can be used as biomass fuel.
- Marine algae. This would be cultivated as a primary source of biomass, rather than a secondary source coming from waste. Due to its quick-growing nature and the fact it requires salt rather than fresh water to grow, it is becoming a focus of innovation within the sector.
- Forestry by-products. These can include pulp from the paper industry, as well as waste from forestry operations. Using these materials could help reduce the amount of waste produced by the forestry sector on the continent.
- Urban sludge and organic waste that can be repurposed to divert waste from landfill and serve a more beneficial purpose.
Why does the EU need new sources of biomass for biofuel production?
The European Commission is conscious that promoting rising use of biofuels without considering where these fuels are coming from could lead to new issues and environmental damage or emissions from other sources.
One of the biggest threats is through indirect land use change, which could see non-agricultural land targeted to help produce biofuel crops to meet rising demand for this kind of fuel. This can have the effect of releasing more carbon into the atmosphere, especially if carbon sink habitats are converted.
To prevent this from happening, the EU has introduced sustainability criteria to assess the production of new biofuel crops to ensure they are contributing to the bloc’s greenhouse gas emissions targets and not inadvertently driving emissions higher.
As agricultural land in the EU is limited, it is essential to explore other options for biomass production and to look at waste streams across a range of sectors to work out where such materials could be repurposed and used to create more sustainable fuel to power transport.
With this increasing focus, and countries like Germany altering their own biofuels policies, there is likely to be renewed interest in developing biogas production facilities on the continent to reduce dependence on imported fuels.
If you are involved in the creation or development of new biogas production facilities and need reliable parts such as pressure vacuum relief valves or liquid level gauges, our team can help ensure you have everything you require for a safe and efficient biofuel facility.
