Biofuels play a crucial role in reducing emissions by 90% by 2050 to achieve net-zero alongside electrification. With battery power and hydrogen fuel having a larger focus being put upon them, advanced biofuels are also important and will serve towards the collaborative and innovative approach taken by the EU to achieve its ambitious climate goals 

Biofuels fall into one of three categories:

1. Biofuels:  Include bioethanol (petrol substitute) and biodiesel (diesel substitute). Biofuels are derived from plants, animal fats, and used cooking oil. They are sometimes blended with regular fuels, to decrease regular fuels’ emissions.
2. Advanced biofuels: Derived from waste materials (manure, crop waste), advanced biofuels ensure even lower greenhouse gas emissions. Chemically similar to natural gas, it becomes biomethane and can be used for heating, transportation (in the form of bio-CNG/LNG), and even power generation
3. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO): HVO is made from plant oils or animal fats but is processed differently from other biofuels, through a hydrotreatment process, which removes oxygen and causes it to chemically imitate conventional diesel fuel composition. HVO can be used in higher concentrations without engine issues.

Using biofuels is important in making industries that are reliant on using fossil fuels in the off-highway vehicles like heavy-duty trucks more climate-friendly as they can be used in existing engines with little to no modification, with no need to overhaul the infrastructure for electrification. 

However, advanced biofuels are more expensive that regular petrol and diesel but with technological advancements can drive their production to become more efficient and reduce costs. Advanced biofuels can play a vital role in helping hard-to-abate sectors decarbonise and contribute to a smoother energy transition. EU policies focusing on scaling sustainable biofuel production and prioritizing advanced biofuels research and development can help integrate biofuels into a solution for net-zero emissions by 2050.

Renewable Energy Directive

The updated EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) mandates a minimum share of advanced biofuels in the fuel mix, signalling the EU’s commitment to this technology. EU Member States need to take an ambitious approach to implementing the Renewable Energy Directive. Until May 2025 the Directive has to be transposed into national law.

Net Zero Industry Act

The Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) aims to support European green technologies, potentially boosting biofuel research and development. The EU has set a goal of reaching a production capacity of zero-emission technologies needed to meet at least 40 percent of the EU’s annual needs by 2030 and 15 percent of global production by 2040. The regulation should support net-zero technologies that contribute significantly to decarbonisation, with specific focus on eight strategic net-zero technologies that will receive additional support such as renewable biogas and biomethane.

REPowerEU

The RePowerEU initiative focuses on scaling up biomethane production to 35 billion cubic meters annually by 2030, primarily through anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Overall, the EU sees advanced biofuels as a strategic weapon in the fight against the energy crisis and dependence on external suppliers. The RePowerEU initiative, with its focus on biomethane, is a concrete example of how the EU is putting this vision into action

To discover the latest in innovations and technology for zero-emissions construction machinery, network with peers and solution providers and attend talks from industry leaders, book your place to attend the 6th Design and Development of Zero-Emissions Off-Highway Machinery Summit will be taking place May 21-22, 2025 in Berlin, Germany.

For more information, click here or email us at info@innovatrix.eu for the event agenda.