Call for coherent EU policy on low-carbon liquid fuels

A growing number of policymakers, industrial sectors, and stakeholders in the European Union (EU)  are calling for a coherent policy strategy for low-carbon liquid fuels where the various proposals to be published for each of the individual transport sectors will enable the deployment of a smart and sustainable mobility strategy.

On March 15, Messe Frankfurt, in cooperation with the Representation of the State of Hessen to the European Union, held an online event debating the need for the EU to launch a Low Carbon Liquid Fuels Strategy. 

There was general consensus among speakers that a long-term strategy for low-carbon liquid fuels is required at the EU level to ensure the adoption of a coherent and comprehensive policy response to the challenge of decarbonising aviation, maritime and road transport and achieving EU’s climate neutrality ambitions.

Commissioner Adina-Ioana Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport, underlined the role of renewable and low carbon liquid fuels in achieving climate neutrality in aviation and maritime sector, and in transport in general. She added that to enable the scaling up of these fuels, the commission was setting up an Alliance for Renewable & Low Carbon Liquid Fuels Value Chain.

FuelsEurope Director General John Cooper welcomed the commissioner’s initiative and ensured the industry’s active cooperation. 

FuelsEurope represents the interest of 40 companies operating refineries in the EU. Members account for almost 100% of EU petroleum refining capacity and more than 75% of EU motor fuel retail sales. FuelsEurope, a division of the European Petroleum Refiners Association, is an international non-profit organisation based in Belgium. 

“There is no silver bullet, no single technology, which will address the challenge of decarbonising the entire transport sector. While the deployment of electrification in light-duty road transport is progressing, renewable and low-carbon fuels represent a strategic and complementary solution,” he said. 

Cooper underlined that the business case for investments in renewable fuels is more robust when the market is the combination of road, aviation, and maritime transport, and therefore the proposed alliance should include in its scope all three transport sectors. 

Cooper also highlighted the use of low-carbon liquid fuels as transitional technology for cars and as a long term enduring solution for some trucks. Therefore there is a strategic reason to address needs in road transport with some low-carbon liquid fuels as well.