Irish MEP criticises RED II biofuel phase out

MEP Sean Kelly, the lead negotiator for the largest group in the European Parliament on the Renewable Energy Directive, has heavily criticised the European Commission’s proposal to phase out conventional biofuels made from food or feed crops.

Proposed changes to the Renewable Energy Directive, dubbed ‘RED II’, would see a gradual phase out of crop-based biofuels such as ethanol from the European fuel mix.

Speaking in the European Parliament in Strasbourg on 3 July, Kelly, the MEP for Fine Gael, commented: “While I welcome much of what is included in the Commission’s proposal on Renewables, I cannot accept the Commission’s proposal on biofuels. This proposal limits the options to decarbonise the transport sector and would probably increase the share of fossil fuels in our energy mix."

The European Commission’s decision to reduce the cap on first generation biofuels, which currently sits at 7%, is due to sustainability concerns about food and feed biofuels, and their effects on land use. The proposals in RED II would reduce the cap down gradually to 3.8% by 2030.

Kelly acknowledged the importance of ensuring the sustainability of biofuels, but stressed the need to distinguish between biofuels that complied with sustainability criteria, and those that don’t.

I believe we must maintain the cap that was agreed only in 2015 and oppose the Commission’s phase out. I also believe we must limit the cap to what it was intended for – reduce the market for unsustainable biofuels made from feedstock such as palm oil.

“We have a protein shortage for animal feed already in Europe and protein is a by-product of many of the sustainable feedstock produced by European farmers. Therefore I propose that biofuels that meet strict sustainability criteria and also generate protein for animal feed as a by-product must not be subject to the cap. This will increase efficiencies and reward EU farmers for their sustainable production.”

With negotiations set to begin in the European Parliament soon, Kelly said he was hopeful of a sensible, pragmatic solution.

“Biofuels sustainability has been on the Brussels agenda for a number of years now and this has thrown the sector into uncertainty and cost us a lot of valuable investment. I believe that this time around we have an experienced group of negotiators from the different parties, and I am confident we can reach a sensible and pragmatic solution,” the Ireland South MEP said.