The new Directive will have to create a new pathway for sustainable biofuels, leading to a substantial share of biomass as a source in transport fuels. But as a newly created market, it all comes down to finding the right balance. The Commission has to establish a market that is sufficiently prosperous for biofuels business, while maintaining the sustainability of this business. The production and use of biofuels should not come with enormous environmental problems like deforestation, extra greenhouse gas emissions from altered use of wetlands, social-economic problems in producing countries (e.g. expropriation of land or higher food prices) or other rebound effects.

The production of biofuels, if done properly, could be of enormous benefit, both for producing and using countries. But the potential threats are at least as significant. So while a market needs flexibility, the European Commission should be crystal clear about its sustainability intentions.

We cannot afford to wait any longer for the development of a biofuels market (or for a biomass market in general), so we have to deal primarily with biofuels from the ‘first generation’. But, while continuing to develop second or third generation technology – which is really considered sustainable – we also cannot afford to water down our sustainability principles.

Rolf de Vos
Editor in chief
GreenPrices
r.devos@greenprices.com