FuelsEurope, the voice of the European petroleum refining industry published its contribution to the decarbonisation of transport in the framework of the Fit for 55 package expected on 14 July. According to this comprehensive overview, no single policy will be sufficient to create momentum for change throughout a sectoral value-chain: close coordination and integration between policies that impact Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), fuels, infrastructures and customer choices are needed.
There is widespread recognition of the fact that Low-Carbon Liquid Fuels, also called ReFuels, are a key instrument for the decarbonisation of aviation, maritime and long-distance road transport. However, road transport at large, including passenger cars and vans, is an essential trigger for unlocking the production of these fuels at an industrial scale.
For FuelsEurope, the uptake of electrification will require time for vehicle fleet turnover and distribution infrastructures deployment. During the transition of passenger cars and vans to electric powered vehicles, low-carbon liquid fuels are the most efficient way to cut emissions from vehicles with an internal combustion engine and to allow the optimisation of the implementation plan of infrastructures for electricity and hydrogen.
“Building on the recommendations of our Clean Fuels for All strategy which outlines how the adoption of low-carbon technologies using low-carbon and sustainable, renewable feedstocks, has the potential to substantially cut GHG emissions from refineries and fuels, we are now making specific regulatory proposals for the decarbonisation of transport,” explained Alessandro Bartelloni, FuelsEurope Director.
FuelsEurope believes that the upcoming revision of the Renewable Energy Directive creates the best opportunity to make it the primary regulatory instrument to drive the effective and efficient decarbonisation of road transport fuels, including a recommendation to express the RED target in GHG terms. Also, the upcoming revision of the Energy Taxation Directive (ETD) is the opportunity to allow the ETD to contribute, together with the RED and possibly with an ETS for transport, to the creation of a carbon price signal capable to create the business case for investments in low-carbon liquid fuels. Finally, FuelsEurope also mentioned the upcoming revision of the CO2 standards in cars and vans and for Heavy-Duty Vehicles.
“The transition should carefully address the societal aspects deriving from changes in employment pattern, skills requirements and inequalities between EU regions and sectors of society,” continued Mr Bartelloni. “No one should be left behind, and access to affordable mobility should be protected as one of the fundamental rights of all citizens.”
