Ecofys study says EC underestimating biofuels GHG by up to 50%

In the Netherlands, a new study from Ecofys says that the European Commission is underestimating the GHG savings of biofuels by as much as 50%. The recently published Commission methodology proposal on the Fuel Quality Directive (98/70/EC) sets the 2010 baseline greenhouse gas intensity of fossil fuels at 94.1 gCO2eq/MJ. It still, however, proposes to compare biofuels with the outdated fossil comparator of 83.8 gCO2eq/MJ. Furthermore, the proposed policy does not call for the much needed transparency on the carbon intensity of fossil fuels entering the EU market, contrary to what is expected from biofuels. “Fossil fuels should meet the same standards as biofuels”, claims Carlo Hamelinck, Managing Consultant at Ecofys. “This policy orientation clearly underestimates the potential that biofuels bring about to save emissions in the EU transport sector.”