German ministries agree on further development of GHG quota

After long, controversial negotiations, the German government agreed Dec. 18 on key points for the national implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). In addition to the gradual increase of the GHG quota to 22 percent in 2030, it includes setting the cap for biofuels from cultivated biomass at 4.4 percent from 2026.

The Union for the Promotion of Oil and Protein Plants e.V. (UFOP) welcomes the agreement reached by the federal ministries as a significant step forward compared to the first drafts of the Federal Environment Ministry (BMU) and as an important step for climate protection in the transport sector. The UFOP particularly emphasizes that the BMU, as the lead ministry, finally recognizes the role of biofuels from cultivated biomass as the most important climate protection component in the transport sector today and assigns them a stable role at today’s level until 2030. This would also ensure the continued provision of domestic feeds as coproducts of biofuel processing, it said.

UFOP supports the ambitious further development of the GHG quota from today’s 6 percent to 22 percent in 2030, which leaves room for the market entry of other propulsion systems and fuels (such as hydrogen). With these key points, the German government is now focusing on synergies and coupling effects instead of excluding market-led options. At the end of its council presidency, Germany is thus also assuming the role of European pioneer in climate protection. The association sees its demand confirmed that no fulfilment option may be excluded in climate protection in the transport sector. The 2030 climate protection target can only be realistically achieved if all fuel and drive options are used.

Overall, UFOP welcomes the agreement reached by the ministries as a good basis for further debate in the Bundestag. It is important that biofuels from cultivated biomass can continue to play an important role in climate protection in the transport sector, the association concluded.