Share of rapeseed oil-based biodiesel increased

December 27, 2020 |

In Germany, UFOP reports that the share of rapeseed oil methyl ester in 2019 rose back to about 0.8 million tons, compared to 0.67 million tons in 2018 and the reason was growing European competition for waste oils and fats resulting from the fact that many EU member states introduced double-counting towards renewable energy targets.

The UFOP has welcomed that the Federal Ministry for the Environment’s bill to implement the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) provides for phasing out the use of palm oil as a feedstock, because palm oil is associated with a high risk of generating indirect changes in land use.

At the same time, UFOP has pointed out the role of rapeseed as a pioneer renewable in Germany and Europe. Production and marketing of biodiesel have also been pushed forward with the aim of creating new income prospects for farms. At the same time, soybeans have been partially replaced in the feeding trough. As a consequence of the implementation of the quota on greenhouse gas emission in Germany, the share of rapeseed oil methyl ester in consumption declined from approximately 1.3 million tonnes in 2015 to 0.67 million tonnes in 2018. From UFOP’s point of view, it is gratifying that in 2019, the share rose back to approximately 0.8 million tonnes. According to UFOP, the reason was growing European competition for waste oils and fats resulting from the fact that many EU member states introduced double-counting towards renewable energy targets.

Demand for these waste feedstocks also comes from producers of hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO). The UFOP has pointed out that HVO producers’ processing capacity has increased to approximately 3.4 million tonnes. By contrast, soybean oil-based biodiesel only plays a secondary role in Germany, with production amounting to just less than 32,000 tonnes.

Category: Fuels

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