EWABA: traceability and transparency of biofuels markets reaches new heights

EWABA has welcomed the newly established Union Database for Biofuels (UDB) which has been open for economic operators’ registration since mid-January.
In a year of major regulatory developments with the expected conclusion of important legislative procedures within the fit for 55 package, the introduction of the UDB as a key part of the regulatory framework underpinned by the Renewable Energy Directive (REDII) will bring a revolutionary positive change to the sector, the organisation said.
The UDB is set to quickly become the driving force behind tightened traceability and transparency of global biofuel supply chains.
The UDB is a digital tool that will support the work of all interested parties within the biofuels supply chain.
By tracking all feedstocks from their point of origin to the biofuels production the UDB will enhance transparency, promote investment certainty and showcase the important and necessary services provided by companies within the waste-based and advanced biofuels sector.
The UDB also ensures the registration of the sustainability information starting at the origin of the feedstock, regardless of its location globally.
This has been a long-lasting request by our industry, and we are delighted to see it taking its final form.
The UDB will significantly support the work of economic operators, auditors, certification schemes, the European Commission, national authorities and other relevant third parties EWABA members such as Greenergy, have been designing and testing the automated connection to the UDB provided by service provider Bioledger.
EWABA members including Olleco, Europe’s leading UCO collector, operate well-established digital records of UCO collections which can be integrated with the Union Database through the verified service provider connections.
To align with the Commission approval of voluntary schemes, service providers approved by one voluntary scheme should be mutually recognized by the other REDII voluntary schemes.
One of the most complete service provider proposals comes from UK-based member Bioledger, which was established in 2019 specifically to address risks in biofuel supply chains using internet of things (IoT), block chain and cloud-based infrastructure.
To deliver these digital traceability tools for the biofuels industry, Bioledger encouraged voluntary schemes and certified companies to act together and early to transition of the near 8,000 certified companies in over 150 countries onto harmonized digital trading applications.
Bioledger has already deployed mobile apps for first collectors of waste feedstocks and a mass balance application which is designed to record and report transactions into the EU biofuels database.
The firm has worked with EWABA members and wider industry representatives to test and improve their software system and be fully prepared for full digital traceability across all biofuel transactions from 2023.