RED II agreement - Target for 3.5% advanced biofuels for the EU by 2030

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

On June 14, a political agreement on a revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) was reached between negotiators from the Commission, the European Parliament and the Council (see official statement, 14/6/2018). The new regulatory framework includes a binding renewable energy target for the EU for 2030 of 32% with an upwards revision clause by 2023.

The press release does not mention the new rules affecting biofuels. However, several media have disclosed some key points of the agreement that I highligth below:
- At least, 14% of transportation fuel must come from renewable sources by 2030.
- Crop-based biofuels are capped at 2020 levels but cannot exceed 7%.
- Advanced biofuels with minimum targets: 0.2% in 2022, 1% in 2025 and 3.5% in 2030.
- Food crops (such as palm oil) that result in high indirect land use change (ILUC) are to be phased out through a certification process for low-ILUC biofuels.

Figure 1. MEPs posing with Miguel Arias Cañete (EU’s climate and energy commissioner who was acting as a mediator in the talks) after reaching the agreement

The text of the Directive will have to be formally approved by the European Parliament and the Council. Once endorsed by both co-legislators in the coming months, the updated RED will be published in the Official Journal of the Union and will enter into force 20 days after publication. Member States will have to transpose the new elements of the Directive into national law 18 months after its entry into force.

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