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WG5 addresses Strategic Research requirements relating to European Biofuels Markets. A Strategy Deployment Document was developed by WG5 and published in January 2008 (see Road Map below). This is currently being updated.

Strategic Deployment Road Map

Phase I: short term until 2010

Stop the fragmentation of the market

  • Set binding regulations instead of non binding directives
  • In view of a future biofuel certification, have a single European Standard for GHG savings evaluation and rating
  • A regulation concerning biofuels accepted by one member state should also be accepted by all the others

Select clear objectives

What is the best way to rank and rate the three motivations to promote biofuels use according to 2003/30/EC?

  • Energetic independence
  • GHG emissions reduction
  • New agricultural products outlets

Open the market

• Not all member states are in a position to fulfil the biofuel targets with their own domestic production: a scheme should allow free trade of biofuels and free trade of“biofuel papers” equivalent to biofuels among member states

• Import/Export of biofuels should be made easier to balance excess or lack of EU production

Harmonize fuel quality rules

  • Cost effectiveness is a crucial driver
  • Primarily, fuels (and therefore biofuels) are designed to fit existing engine requirements
  • However, higher blends (E 85, B 30 …) might be encouraged even though they need vehicle adaptation

Phase II: medium term (2010 – 2020)
Phase two is a continued development of Phase one

  • Avoid unnecessary new measures: constant and harmonized policy is needed to give confidence to biofuels actors
  • If agriculture needs support, it should not be made through biofuel policy but directly
  • Open domestic and foreign market is a rule
  • Research on advanced biofuels should be encouraged but advanced biofuels have to compete freely with older ones on the market

Phase III: long term (2020 – 2030)

  • Current incentives (preference for biofuels) should vanish before this date
  • Biofuels / bioproducts from biorefineries should 'fly on their own'