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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
A new era for biofuels traceability in Europe
28/2/2024
9 min read
What will the European Union’s (EU) new bioenergy database mean for bioenergy sustainability and traceability both across and beyond Europe, and what are the challenges that still lie ahead? Gemma Toop and Sacha Alberici, Associate Directors at Guidehouse, take a look.
The European Commission (EC) launched its much-anticipated Union Database for Biofuels (UDB) in January, aiming to transform the traceability of supply chains for biofuels used across Europe and beyond. Any biofuels that are consumed in the EU will need to be registered in the UDB, regardless of their origin. Therefore, companies which want the option to sell their biofuels into the EU will also need to be involved, creating ripple effects of the UDB outside Europe.
Since the inception of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) in 2010, biofuels used in the European transport sector have had to comply with mandatory sustainability criteria and achieve minimum lifecycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings, compared to their fossil equivalent. Biofuels are liquid fuels, such as biodiesel or bioethanol, made from biogenic material including crops, or wastes and residues like used cooking oil or straw.
The sustainability and GHG criteria apply to all biofuels consumed in the EU, regardless of the origin of the feedstock or fuel.