German fuel industry urges faster rollout of B10 diesel

The German Association of Waste-Based Fuel Manufacturers (MVaK) has called on the German government to accelerate the nationwide adoption of B10 diesel, arguing that the fuel offers a practical and immediate way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy security and support domestic industry.
B10 diesel contains up to 10 per cent biodiesel, compared with the current B7 standard, which contains up to seven per cent.
According to MVaK, increasing the biodiesel blend would reduce reliance on imported fossil diesel while making better use of Germany’s significant domestic biodiesel production capacity.
The association noted that many vehicle manufacturers, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Opel and Peugeot/Citroën, already approve a wide range of diesel vehicles for use with B10.
Drivers can check compatibility in their vehicle handbook or on the fuel filler flap. However, MVaK highlighted that vehicles produced by the Volkswagen Group and Ford Germany have yet to receive approval for B10 refuelling.
The push for wider B10 adoption is aligned with the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), which encourages member states to increase the proportion of renewable components in diesel fuel from seven to 10 per cent.
Several countries, including France, Belgium and Portugal, have already introduced B10 or higher biodiesel blends, while Italy, Sweden and Ireland are preparing similar measures.
Although B10 has been permitted at German filling stations since May 2024, uptake remains limited. MVaK says one key obstacle is the current requirement for forecourts offering B10 to also stock B7. The association is urging the Federal Environment Ministry to make this provision more flexible, allowing a nationwide B7 network without requiring every station to offer both fuels.
MVaK also argues that wider availability of B10 could help motorists. According to the association’s calculations, B10 could have been sold for up to three cents per litre less than B7 during the first half of 2026.
“An increasing supply of B10 is a sensible climate, energy and economic policy measure,” said Detlef Evers, managing director of MVaK. “It reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transport, strengthens security of supply and boosts domestic value creation for small and medium-sized businesses.”