Course: BFM 202 Biodiesel Production

Review Lecture

Biodiesel in Germany and the European Union

Biodiesel in Germany and the European Union

Biodiesel in Germany and the EU.

Germany and other European Union nations are global leaders in the production of biodiesel. They also play an important role in the global import/exportation of biodiesel. The EU recognized early on the benefits of biodiesel as it relates to improved climate protection, global fuel security, and rural development.

The EU actually got started with biodiesel production during the early 1990’s due to surplus farmland taken out of production in order to help stabilize crop prices due to a surplus in agricultural commodities. Early on the Union for the Promotion of Oilseeds and Protein Plants (UFOL) saw an opportunity for raising rapeseed on the surplus land which represented approximately 10% of the available agricultural land. Production targets for EU member countries were set and targets for biodiesel blends were set at approximates 7%.

Not all of the EU member countries participated because the targets were not mandated. That along with issues generated from the food versus fuel debate prompted a change from observing production quotas to having “sustainable” production targets that included minimum greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets AND setting specific sustainable crop production parameters.

The Greenhouse gas emission reductions were set first at a 34% reduction and moving to 50% reduction in 2017 and 60% reduction after 2017. The sustainable crop production parameters were identified in the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED) which required adherence to Cross Compliance Regulations and Statutory Management Requirements (SMR’s). For example, biofuels cannot be produced on land with a high biodiversity value, or land with high carbon stocks (such as wetlands and peat bogs), or grasslands, conservation areas and must avoid excess water consumption. These rules are for EU member countries and non-EU member countries that wish to export biofuels into the EU.

Energy policy is one of the most important issues for foreign policy.