UFOP publishes status report "Biodiesel & Co. 2022/2023"

Berlin, 18 October 2023. Russia's war against Ukraine shook up the global energy and oilseed and vegetable oil markets. The European Union, together with the business community, has in principle successfully countered the possible negative consequences. The big losers, however, are global climate protection and thus the regions of the global South that are particularly affected by climate change. This is emphasised in the introduction to the updated UFOP status report "Biodiesel & Co. 2022/2023". The decisions on the adoption of the EU Commission's proposals within the framework of the "fit-for-55" package are presented and explained, with a special focus on the revision of the Renewable Energy Directive - RED III.

At the same time, with considerable delay, the still legally binding Directive 2018/2001 - RED II - is being implemented. The EU Commission is responsible for the considerably delayed announcement of the necessary delegated acts, including 2022/996 (COM). This provides for the tightening and harmonisation of the system principles of the voluntary certification systems, which in turn would have to be adapted accordingly and approved by the EU Commission.  The report makes clear that the EU Commission is overtaking itself with its proposals within the framework of the "Green Deal", but at the same time is putting on the brakes when it comes to practical implementation and impact assessments in the member states. One cause, in the UFOP's view, is the EU Commission's unwillingness to communicate with the trade associations in the biofuel commodity chain.

The status report explains the national regulations for the introduction of alternative fuels (paraffinic fuels/HVO/RFNBO), the competition from other sectors for these fuels (aviation), as well as the problem of over-subsidisation through multiple offsetting as a trigger for questionable imports from China, which poses major problems for the European biodiesel industry. In this context, the raw material composition of the quantities of biodiesel and HVO counted towards the GHG quota obligation in the quota year 2022 is explained in the context of the fundamentally desired "GHG efficiency competition". The German government is currently developing the National Biomass Strategy (NABIS). This project is commented on from the UFOP's point of view with reference to a comprehensive statement by the bioenergy associations. The relevant document references are linked in the text.

The UFOP's fact check on mobility in Germany at and an interview with Prof. Dr. Peter Pickel, John Deere, on the status and prospects of alternative fuels and drives in agriculture and forestry conclude the report section. This is followed by an extensive statistical annex on global and European biodiesel and HVO production and use, among other things, as well as excerpts of the statistics from the experience and evaluation report of the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) on the raw material composition and their geographical origins of the biofuels recorded in Germany in the "Nabisy" database.

 The progress report is available for download.