Fuel producers vent their anger at EU’s green agenda

A planned proposal to improve the quality of fuels used in European vehicles has sparked fierce debate about the future of plant-based transport oils.

The review of the fuel quality directive next Wednesday (24 January) will set new standards for inland transport, in the light of improvements to fuel and engine technology and an increased interest in biofuels - fuels derived from crops including soy and rapeseed.

The review will set fuel producers the challenge of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1% per year between 2010 and 2020. It comes on the same day as a proposal setting binding carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction targets for EU car manufacturers.

Fuel companies say the target could not be met without a huge rise in the use of biofuels, which currently make up about 1% of the EU fuel mix.

"There is no way to bring down emissions, in that timeframe, without hugely increasing the use of biofuels," according to Peter Tjan of the European Petroleum Industry Association (Europia).

Biofuels currently make up about 1% of the fuel mix. Europia says a 10% decrease in fuel emissions would translate as a 20% fuel market share for biofuels.

The Commission this month suggested biofuels should make up 10% of the fuel market by 2020.

"This inconsistency is a big issue for us," said Tjan. "You can’t just throw different targets at the same industry at the same time. It’s impossible."

Since most car engines cannot cope with heavy biofuels, current fuel legislation only allows traditional fuel to be blended with up to 5% biofuels.

The Commission review also suggests doubling this. But it warns increasing the blend any further would mean changes to engine design, as well as raising environmental questions. Although biofuels are generally agreed to produce less CO2 than traditional fuels, environmentalists fear the production of biofuels could damage the environment.

The Commission review promises new proposals, taking into account developments in fuel and engine technologies and the sustainable production of biofuels, before the end of 2012.

Biofuel industry representatives say this is not enough.

Rob Vierhout of the European Bioethanol Fuel Association (EBIO) said there was no need to wait for further environmental impact assessment results. "If you are using biofuels you are reducing CO2 emissions," he said. To meet the biofuels market share target, according to EBIO, traditional fuels would have to be blended with at least 16% biofuel.

He also criticised the review suggestion that petrol blended with 10% bioethanol would have to be labelled as ‘petrol not suitable for all vehicles’. "This is a very bad advert for selling your product," he said.

A planned proposal to improve the quality of fuels used in European vehicles has sparked fierce debate about the future of plant-based transport oils.