Technical assistance for certification aspects related to the promotion of the use of biofuels in the European Union

Duration: 2007 ● Client: European Commission DG TREN ● WIP Role: Policy development

The report ‘Technical assistance for certification aspects related to the promotion of the use of biofuels in the European Union’ was prepared in response to an assignment issued by the European Commission DG TREN. The report was elaborated under the leadership of WIP Renewable Energies in cooperation with MVV Consulting GmbH, Imperial College London, Themba Technology Limited, and IFEU Institute.

The European Union promotes the use of biofuels as replacement for diesel and/or petrol in the transport sector, especially through the former Directive 2003/30 on the promotion of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport. During the review of this Directive, it became clear that one of the major areas of concern to be addressed is the issue of the possible negative environmental impacts of an increase in the use of biofuels in the European Union. Therefore, the Commission considered putting forward in the revised legislation an article that establishes a certification scheme for biofuels. This report presents recommendations of how biodiversity aspects can be included in the revised legislation on biofuels. The following questions are specifically addressed:

• How far will the principle of ‘cross compliance’ guarantee that EU produced biomass will meet criteria on biodiversity?
• What are the legal and practical possibilities for EU certification schemes under WTO rules and regulations?
• What are the possibilities of applying the Kyoto mechanisms and the Convention on Biological Diversity EU certification schemes?

Please click here for the download of the report ‘Technical assistance for certification aspects related to the promotion of the use of biofuels in the European Union’.