Unresolved clash over indirect land use change leaves EU biofuels policy adrift

Biofuels Digest
Jim Lane
May 7, 2012

In the EU, a clash between the Climate Commission and the Energy Department, over indirect land use change, has left policymakers were unable to agree on an emissions accounting scheme revision needed to finally establish which feedstocks will be considered acceptable in meeting the EU’s biofuel targets.

The EU industry, which has reached $16M in annual sales, depends currently on a mix primarily of palm, soybean and rapeseed, for biodiesel production, and all feedstocks would be in jeopardy under proposed indirect land use change provisions. The EU is facing difficulties in meeting targets without access to its major feedstocks, while at the same time emissions caps aimed at oil refiners are pushing refiners towards greater use of biofuels.

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