April 8, 2023

Policy developments on biofuels

Ralph Brieskorn Project directorate Biofuels The Netherlands

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Summary• EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED)• Sustainability Requirements• Developments in the EU:

• Goals• Certification schemes• Biograce

• Policy developments in the Netherlands• Further Policy Perspectives: Biobased economy

• Opportunities• Lessons learned

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EU 2020 Targets• Renewable Energy Directive

• Minimum of 10% renewable energy in transport in 2020• Electric, biofuels, biogas• At least applicable to road transport, opt in for shipping/air• Double counting 2nd generation biofuels

(waste/residues/cellulosic)

• Fuel Quality Directive• Life Cycle Analysis, CO2-reduction of 6% compared to 2010• Looks at the whole chain of production and use of fuels• No double counting 2nd generation biofuels

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Concerns about biofuels• Competition with food (price spikes 2007/2008)• Land use change (direct and indirect)• Loss of biodiversity• Loss of GHG sinks• Other sustainability effects:

• Locally: soil, water, air• Social (poverty, land rights)

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And more trade

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EU Sustainability Requirements• For biofuels and other bio liquids for energy purposes:

• GHG-emissions: > 35% better than fossil equivalent, 2017 50% existing and 60% new installations

• Biodiversity: no go areas• Carbon sinks: preservation of status of areas• EU: cross compliance requirements (agriculture and nature

protection)• Reporting requirements: food security and food prices, ILO, land

security• For waste, residues and solid biomass:

• Waste and residues (not from agriculture, aquaculture, fishery, forest): only GHG-emission requirement

• For solid biomass for energy possibility of national sustainability requirements

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Policy Developments in Europe 2020

April 8, 2023

• Malta, Portugal, Germany readywith implementation. Netherlands since22 March 2011 (Yesterday)

• Sweden, UK, Austria,Ireland legislation published, not yet endorsed

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Policy Developments in Europe coming Years2011 2012 2013 2014 Remarks

France 7 tbd tbd tbd E10 and E85

Spain 5.9 6 6.1 tbd

Austria 5.75 6.25 tbd tbd Intro E10 foreseen

Germany 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 E10 and E85

Sweden 5e/4d tbd tbd tbd E85

Netherlands 4.25 4.5 5 5.5 Evaluation 2014

Italy 4 4.5 5 5.5

Belgium 4 tbd tbd tbd

Ireland 4 tbd tbd tbd

UK 3.5 4 4.5 5

Greece 3 tbd tbd tbdApril 8, 2023

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A Glance at a renewable Transport Mix in 2020• Electric cars: 200.000 vehicles, 0,5% share in 10% target

• Cars on biogas/green gas: 200.000 vehicles, > 0,5% share in 10% target

• Second generation biofuels: 2,5%, double counting for a 5% share in the 10% target

• Waste and residues, lignocellulosic material• Liquid and gas

• First generation biofuels in 2020: 4% of 10% target• Bioreplacement for petrol and diesel• Independent auditing required• Sustainability ensured

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Voluntary certification schemesSchemes being developed by consortia / roundtables

• Bonsucro (formerly BSI, sugarcane) – www.bettersugarcane.com

• ISCC – www.iscc-system.org • NTA 8080/8081 – www.sustainable-biomass.org • REDcert – www.redcert.org • RSB – www.rsb.epfl.ch • RSPO (palm oil) – www.rspo.org • RTRS (soy) – www.responsiblesoy.org

Schemes being developed by companies• Abengoa (RED Bioenergy Sustainability Assurance)• French stakeholders – 2BSvs• Nesté Oil• Red Tractor – http://www.nfuonline.com/News/Red-Tractor-

scheme-proposed-for-biofuels/ • SEKAB/UNICA – www.sustainableethanolinitiative.com

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BioGrace: GHG calculation voluntary scheme• BioGrace: Biofuel Greenhouse Gas emissions:

alignment of calculations in Europe• Aim: Harmonise calculations of biofuel greenhouse gas (GHG)

emissions performed in EU-27 under legislation implementing the Renewable Energy and Fuel Quality directives

• BioGrace to be submittedsoon for recognition asvoluntary scheme

• Feb – June: public workshops• More information:

www.BioGrace.net

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Production Ethanol from Wheat (NG steam boiler) Version 1.0

Overview ResultsCalculation Not allocated Alloc. Alloc.results Total RED Allocation factorsAll results in g CO2,eq / MJEthanol factor Annex V Table D Ethanol plant

Cultivation 23 23 59,5% to ethanolCultivation of wheat 39,40 59,5% 23,44 40,5% to DDGS

Processing 21 21Handling & storage of wheat 0,10 59,5% 0,06Ethanol plant 35,34 59,5% 21,03

Transport 2 2Transport of wheat 0,52 59,5% 0,31Transport of ethanol 1,10 100% 1,10Filling station 0,45 100% 0,45

Bonus 0 100% 0 0 0

Totals 76,9 46 46Calculation per phaseCultivation of wheat Quantity of product Calculated emissions

Yield Yield Emissions per MJ fuel (end product)

Wheat 5.200 kg ha-1 year-176.466 MJWheat ha-1 year-1 g CO2 g CH4 g N2O g CO2, eq

Moisture content 13,5% 1,000 MJ / MJWheat, input

By-product Straw 2.145 kg ha-1 year-1

Energy consumption

Diesel 3.716 MJ ha-1 year-1 8,01 0,00 0,00 8,01

Agro chemicals

N-fertiliser 109,3 kg N ha-1 year-1 7,61 0,02 0,03 15,92K2O-fertiliser 16,4 kg K2O ha-1 year-1

0,22 0,00 0,00 0,23

P2O5-fertiliser 21,6 kg P2O5 ha-1 year-10,51 0,00 0,00 0,54

Pesticides 2,3 kg ha-1 year-1 0,57 0,00 0,00 0,63

Seeding material

Seeds- wheat 120 kg ha-1 year-1 0,45 0,00 0,00 0,82

Field N2O emissions 0,024 g / MJwheat 0,00 0,00 0,04 13,24Total 17,36 0,03 0,07 39,40

Result g CO2,eq / MJEthanol 39,40

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Policy Developments in the Netherlands• July 2009: Advisory Committee on Sustainability of Biomass

(Committee Corbey)• December 2009: Ministerial Regulation Double Counting of

Advanced Biofuels, “Second Generation”- waste / residues, lignocellulosic material- GHG balance >35%

• April 2010: Duty charge minus 27% on high blends sustainable ethanol (E85) Sustainability standard: NTA 8080/8081, BSI, RTFO

• April 2010: Agreement on transparency on nature, origin and sustainability of biofuels with business sector

• May 2010:Perspective on mid-term developments: from 4% in 2010 to 5,5% in 2014 and evaluation of 2020 target in 2014

• June 2010: Dutch Renewable Action Plan ready: presented to European Commission

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Policy Developments in the Netherlands• Implementation of European legislation REDD and FQD

• January 2011: Legislation has been approved by Parliament, now in Senate

• Make it work in practice: operational structure for the administration of sustainable biofuels (Dutch Emission Authority/NEA)

• October 2010: Consultation of the EU Commission on indirect land use change (iLUC). The Netherlands in favour of iLUC-factor and low risk iLUC biofuels

• Global sustainability of biofuels/energy/biobased: dialogue with producing countries, subsidy programmes (20 Mln Euro), Global Bio Energy Partnership and roundtables

• EU consultation on sustainability criteria for solid biomass for energy purposes. Netherlands in favour

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Further Policy Perspectives• Parliament voted for:

• Possibility for higher percentage of renewable energy in transport coming years and broadening obligation to shipping and air transport

• Reassurance of no impacts of biomass use on primary forests

• Stimulate more sustainable energy in transport (2nd generation biofuels, biogas, electricity), at least half of 10% in 2020

• Adequate enforcement of current legislation

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Further Policy Perspectives • Advice from the Social and Economic Council (SER) ‘More

chemistry between green and growth’ and Advisory Committee on Sustainability of Biomass ‘Sustainability and decisiveness’:

• 3 important conclusions:• Biobased Economy provides opportunities for the Dutch

economic development, innovation, GHG-emission reduction and energy security

• Sustainability framework is necessary for a biobased economy in order to protect natural resources, improve social situation and food security

• Sustainability frameworks should be completed with ilUC, more efficient agriculture, efficient use of biomass and nature protection

• Government will react on the above mentioned advices

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Biobased Economy

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Biobased Economy in the Netherlands• Part of the Top Sectors of the present government: chemical

sector, energy, logistics, agrifood• Opportunities for the Netherlands:

• Strong sectors in the Netherlands: agrifood, chemistry, energy, logistics, agricultural knowledge

• GHG-reduction• Energy security

• Ambition of the Platform Green Resources:• 30% biobased in 2030• About 59 Mton CO2-reduction

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Opportunities of a Biobased Economy

Platform Green Resources Low High

Avoided fossil fuels (PJ/year) 113 883

Additional agricultural work (%) 3 5

Additional income energy/chemical sector B€/year)

800 1000

Additional work in energy/chemical sector (%) 8 12

Value in country production green resources (B€/year)

180 500

Import green resources (B€/year) 2600 5200

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Some Examples• NSPS: synthetic composites with natural fibers (flax, jute, cotton)

• Croda: half fabricates for paints (dry and colours) and fatty amines for plastics

• Cosun: bio refinery for sugar beets, use in chemical and energy sector

• Bioport Rotterdam: 50% CO2 reduction and climate resilient in 2025

• Bio fermentation plants Spakenburg: gas for 3500 households• Possibility: 2 billion m3 biogas production, 1 million households

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Lessons learned from biofuels

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It’s all about balance !CO2

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April 8, 2023

Questionsralph.brieskorn@minvrom.nl