Novozymes CEO calls on EU to introduce blending mandate for biofuels by 2030

Novozymes CEO Peder Holk Nielsen has called for the EU to introduce a blending mandate for advanced biofuels by 2030 to help decarbonise the transport sector.

The chief executive of the biotech specialist made the announcement at an energy security conference which took place at the European Parliament in Brussels on 25 February, 2016.

He urged the EU to promote advanced biofuels in order to create jobs and encourage large-scale investment. He also said this will benefit energy security and rural development.

Elsewhere, he acknowledged that the transition from an oil-based to a bio-based society is a difficult one as it implies catching up "with more than a hundred years of innovation and infrastructure development of the oil-based model".

He further highlighted that advanced biofuels are becoming commercially ready with six commercial-scale plants converting agricultural residues into advanced bio-ethanol in operation globally today based on more than €2bn CAPEX in the ground.

Separately, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Prime Minister of Denmark and Secretary General of NATO, said that the high dependence on oil imports – 90% today – is the EU's Achilles' heel.

He said the EU was spending vast amounts of money importing oil. In 2014, EU member states spent more than €270bn on foreign crude oil – more than the combined GDP of Bulgaria, Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

He added: "Second, because half of this money goes to unstable, authoritarian regimes."

Rasmussen explained that this situation has a serious impact on the EU's ability to provide effective, coordinated responses to threats and provocations at international level.

He urged the EU to change course and increase its production of alternative energy – including biofuels.

He said: "Biofuel technology replaces imported oil with home-grown energy and as such it is one of the most important and far-reaching legacies today's Europeans could leave to the Europe of tomorrow."

This article was written by Liz Gyekye, editor at Biofuels International.