European Commission proposes to boost use of second-generation biofuels in transport fuels

The European Commission has proposed to reduce the maximum amount of crop-based biofuels used in transport by half after 2020, according to a Reuters report.

Crop-based biofuels, which are from agricultural products, could result in indirect changes in land use, which is a cause for concern and could inadvertently result in higher carbon emissions.

A proposal from the European Commission recommends that the maximum contribution from liquid biofuels to the EU renewable energy target be reduced from 7% to 3.8% in 2021, the report said.

However, at the same time, the European Commission is proposing to more than triple the contribution of second-generation biofuels, which come from waste from the agriculture and forestry industries, from 1.5% in 2021 to 5.5% by 2030.

“A progressive reduction of food-based biofuels and their replacement by more advanced biofuels will realize the potential for decarbonizing the transport sector,” the European Commission said in its draft proposal.