Consultations on biofuels, sustainability and energy strategy
Current Consultations
Public consultation on Renewable Energy Strategy
A Public Consultation on the Renewable Energy Strategy has been launched by the EC. It will be open 6 December 2011 - 7 February 2012. Contributions are welcomed from all stakeholders, including members of the public, with an interest in the development of the Renewable Energy Strategy in Europe in the medium term (to 2030 and beyond).
The legislative framework as regards renewable energy is laid down in the Renewable Energy Directive which sets an obligatory target of 20% renewable energy in final energy consumption as well as a 10% target in transport for 2020. Given the long-term perspective of investors it is necessary already now to look beyond that year. Against the background of the EU's ambition to move towards a reduction of 80-95% of GHG emissions in a 2050 perspective, it is clear that a further strong growth in renewables will be needed beyond the 2020 targets.
This public consultation has the aim of soliciting the view of interested parties to assess in how far the orientations of the current policy framework remain valid in the medium term - i.e. until 2030. Interested parties are requested to consider the specific questions addressed in the consultation document.
More information on consultations relating to biofuels and bioenergy, renewable energy and sustainable transport strategies
The EBTP also actively contributes to EU consultations on biofuels, sustainability and energy strategy. Below are summary details of:
- EBTP consultation and acitivities on the availability and sustainability of feedstocks for advanced biofuels
- Recent consultations on biofuels and energy strategy launched by the EC and related ETPs
EBTP Consultation on the availability and sustainability of feedstocks for advanced biofuels
In cooperation with the European Commission and other organisations, EBTP WG1 (Biomass) and WG4 (Sustainability) regularly contribute to consultation and activities on availability and sustainability of feedstocks for production of advanced biofuels, such as the ongoing consultation on Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC).
In addition, WG1 and WG4 are currently drafting revised information on availability and sustainability issues for the updated version of the EBTP SRA/SD, which is due to be published in 2010 (see above).
Links and background information on various aspects of Biofuels and Sustainability issues are available on the 'Biofuels Information' section of this website.
Summaries and links to various reports on sustainability are including in the reports section.
European Consultations on biofuels, sustainabiltiy and energy strategy
Recent consultations
A Public Consultation on the Clean Transport Systems (CTS) initiative ran from 11 August - 6 October 2011. Contributions are welcomed from all stakeholders, including members of the public, with an interest in low-carbon transport.
The public consultation on accounting methods for 10% renewable target in transport (with specific additional reference to biofuels) ran from 14 April 2011 until 14 June 2011.This consultation concerns the method of accounting for renewable electricity, hydrogen and biomethane towards the Renewable Energy Directive's (Directive 2009/28/EC) 10% target for renewable energy in transport by 2020. It further concerns the potential update of Annex III to the Directive containing a list of energy contents of biofuels.
Public consultation on the The public consulation on the Strategic Transport Technology Plan (STTP) ran until 28 May 2011. The consultation provided any interested party with an opportunity to contribute to the preparation of the STTP.
The public consultation on the Bio-based economy for Europe: state of play and future potential was intended to provide opportunities for inputs from those directly or indirectly linked to the bio-based economy sectors, including representatives of public authorities, businesses and associations, academics and technical experts, civil society organisations and individual citizens. The closing date for contributions was 2 May 2011.
Consultation on the update to the EBTP SRA/SDD
A consultation on the Update to the EBTP Strategic Research Agenda and Strategy Deployment Document SRA/SDD commenced on 19th April 2010 and continued until 31 May 2010.
Thank you for the comments and recommendations received from stakeholders and members of the public.
Links to the EBTP SRA Update 2010 (published July 2010) and the original EBTP SRA/SDD (published January 2008) and further information can be found on the SRA/SDD page.
Indirect Land Use Change and Biofuels consultation ran from 30/07/2010 to 31/10/2010. Indirect land use change is a subject of great complexity. The Commission consulted on a wide basis; seeking advice on both the scale and characteristics of the problem, as well as, if the scale of the problem is significant enough, how it should be addressed. The Commission has issued several studies on the topic (see link below), together with the consultation document. Interested parties were asked to to base their contributions on these studies, where comments on assumptions, data and methodology are of special interest, as well as on other analytical work. The Commissions is also seeking advice on concrete policy options.
Towards a new Energy Strategy for Europe 2011-2020 - Consultation 07.05.2010 - 02.07.2010
The overall goal of European energy policy is to ensure that consumers and enterprises obtain safe, secure, sustainable and low-carbon energy at affordable and competitive prices. The challenges of global energy security and energy geopolitics, slow progress in combating climate change at the global level, the urge to recover on growth and jobs in the EU and the need to invest in tomorrow's energy networks call for a new Energy Strategy to further deliver on those objectives.
Completing the internal energy market, achieving energy savings and promoting low-carbon innovation are the main vectors to reach the objectives of competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply. An open global business climate and a more coherent and effective approach to the EU external energy relations will also help us to reach our objectives.
Submissions are to be sent to ENER-ACTION-PLAN by 2 July 2010.
A public
consultation on Biodiverse grassland, biofuels and bioliquids ran
from
14.12.2009 - 08.02.2010
The sustainability requirements of the Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources establish that raw materials used for the production of biofuels and bioliquids may not be produced on land that had the status of highly biodiverse grassland in or after January 2008. The objective of the consultation is to seek views on possible approaches to define the criteria and ranges of highly biodiverse grasslands. This will feed into the drafting of a Commission Decision on the establishment of criteria and ranges of highly biodiverse grasslands for the purpose of Directive 2009/28/EC.
The Commission is required to establish such criteria and ranges according to Article 17(3)c of the Directive 2009/28/EC.
There is a similar requirement, as far as biofuels are concerned, in the Fuel Quality Directive [98/70/EC]
An EC public consultation on the future EU 2020 strategy ran from 24.11.2009 to 15.01.2010. Comments were invited from all stakeholders.
"In presenting his programme for the new Commission, President Barroso set out his vision for where the European Union should be in 2020. He believes that the exit from the current crisis should be the point of entry into a new sustainable social market economy, a smarter, greener economy where our prosperity will result from innovation and from using resources better, and where knowledge will be the key input. To make this transformation happen, Europe needs a common agenda: the EU 2020 strategy.
This strategy should enable the EU to make a full recovery from the crisis,
while speeding up the move towards a smart and green economy. EU 2020 will
build on the successes obtained by the Lisbon strategy since its 2005 relaunch,
which focused on growth and jobs, but will also address some of the Lisbon
strategy's shortcomings.
The Commission intends to present a formal proposal for the EU 2020 strategy early next year, with a view to the EU's Heads of State and government adopting the strategy at their spring 2010 meeting. In the meantime, the Commission would like to hear your views on some suggested broad policy considerations for the future EU2020 strategy."