Policy News

Renewable fuels in the UK fuel supply achieved an aggregated greenhouse gas (GHG) saving of 83% compared to fossil fuels, according the latest UK Government figures. Accounting for emissions from indirect land-use change (ILUC) reduced this GHG saving to 78%. This quarterly release covered the supply of renewable fuel in 2020, based on data available on 18 June 2021, which has been reported…
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The oilseed harvest in the EU-27 is likely to see yet another rise this year following a bumper crop of soybean and sunflower seeds. The rapeseed harvest has also seen an increase in the past 12 months. The EU Commission currently estimates output for 2021 at 30.6 million tonnes. This will translate to a rise of just under 11% over the previous year. However, production will still fall about…
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The International Air Transport Association (IATA) warned that the reliance on taxation as the solution for cutting aviation emissions in the EU’s ‘Fit for 55’ proposal is counter-productive to the goal of sustainable aviation. EU policy needs to support practical emission reduction measures such as incentives for Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and modernisation of air traffic…
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The biofuels industry has supported the European Commission’s proposal to end the statistical inflation of waste-based biofuels in the EU’s road transport energy mix - a practice they say masks the use of fossil fuels. The revised 2.2% target for advanced biofuels, such as used cooking oil, is lower than the 3.5% proposed in the 2018 renewable energy directive. The scrapping of so-called…
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The importance of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to decarbonisation of the aviation sector has been raised during a meeting of the Prince of Wales’ Sustainable Markets Initiative (SMI). As part of the UK-hosted G7 Summit, world leaders were challenged to collectively commit to mandates for the use of SAF. During discussions on the need for coordinated action to tackle climate change, SMI…
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India has brought forward its target of blending petroleum with 20% ethanol by five years in its efforts to accelerate towards renewables and make its overall energy basket cleaner, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. Modi, who was speaking on the occasion of the World Environment Day, said the country would now aim to achieve the target of 20% blending by 2025, instead of 2030. He said this was…
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French group Total, one of the world’s biggest energy companies, is preparing to change its name to TotalEnergies to signal its diversification towards cleaner energy sources. The group, founded in 1924 as the Compagnie francaise des petroles, proposed the new name at a shareholders’ general assembly. “The group is expressing its intention to transform itself into a multi-energy company…
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Five EU countries have demanded the European Commission establish a framework for stricter supervision of the use of biofuels in the bloc in the wake of a number of cases of fraud relating the sale of used cooking oil (UCO) of unsustainable origin as transport fuel. EURACTIV reported that the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany and Luxembourg issued a joint statement on the need to improve the…
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The Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants (UFOP) has welcomed the German Bundestag's decision to increase the greenhouse gas reduction obligation for fuels. The law provides for an increase from 6% today to 7% in 2022 and to 25% in 2030. UFOP has repeatedly called for a more ambitious GHG quota system. The aim is to give domestic agriculture and the biofuel industry more…
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The International Energy Agency (IEA) has released its net zero by 2050 roadmap. The IEA said the world has a viable pathway to building a global energy sector with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in 2050, but it was narrow and required immediate action across all countries. Net Zero by 2050: A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector was the world’s first comprehensive study to lay out a…
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US President Joe Biden recently announced a 50-52% emissions reduction target from 2005 levels by 2030. This is part of the country’s new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement with reference to low carbon renewable fuels as part of the strategy to tackle climate change and meet the country’s commitment under the pact. American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian…
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The European Union has reached a deal on the European Climate Law allowing it to go into the US-hosted climate summit with an agreement on the bloc’s 2030 target. After 14 hours of talks, negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states reached an agreement on the European Climate Law that will enshrine its commitment to reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Parties reached an…
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The European Commission’s decision to introduce surveillance measures on imports of renewable ethanol for fuel from third countries is an important step towards preventing a surge in imports that could harm the EU renewable ethanol industry. The decision, taken at the initiative of France and supported by an overwhelming majority of member states, follows an action from the European renewable…
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Net zero-emission aviation is one step closer following the launch of a new competition to support the development of cutting-edge facilities capable of turning everyday waste into jet fuel. The Green Fuel, Green Skies competition, which is part of the Prime Minister’s Ten Point Plan, will support UK companies as they pioneer new technologies to convert household rubbish, waste wood and excess…
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