Biofuels in the EU Renewable Energy Directive - Update

1. EF/010/077  Biofuels in the EU Renewable Energy Directive - Update Energy crops advisory group European Commission, DG Energy Ewout Deurwaarder 29/06/2010

2. EU Renewable Energy Directive (2009) • Part of the EU climate and energy package • Proposed January 2008 • Politically agreed December 2008 • Adopted April 2009 • Official publication June 2009 • In force 25 June 2009

3. Directive implementation • Member States to: • Transpose into national legislation by 5 December 2010 • Draw up national renewable energy action plans (NREAPs) by 30 June 2010 • Facilitates monitoring of the Directive and provides stability for investment • Commission has adopted a template in June 2009 • Documents are/will become available at: • http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/transparency_platform/transparency_platform_en.htm

4. National Renewable Energy Action Plans - Template

6. Implementation of the sustainability criteria • By 5 December 2010 • Auditing & providing evidence • according to EU Member States rules • or alternatively the Commission can accredit ‘voluntary schemes’ (or international agreements) as sufficient. * Very limited scope for exceptions to this

7. 10 June: 3 documents adopted by the Commission • Communication on the practical implementation • to facilitate a consistent implementation • provides details on practical aspects of each of the sustainability criteria. • no binding character • Communication on voluntary schemes and default values • sets out how the Commission will assess ‘voluntary schemes’ • sets out how and when the Commission intends to update the ‘default values’ in Annex V • Decision on the calculation of land carbon stocks Documents available via http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/biofuels/sustainability_criteria_en.htm

8. To follow through comitologyprocedure • Definition of ‘biodiverse grasslands’ – in progress, following up on consultation • Definitions of ‘severely degraded/heavily contaminated land’ – in progress, simultaneous with ‘biodiverse grassland’ • Decision on reporting of certain further elements- in progress • Approval of voluntary schemes: Commission is ready to assess such schemes upon request • Update of Annex V default values: as indicated in the Communication, intention to do this in 2010

9. MS reports under article 19(2) • Use of default GHG values in the EU only if the NUTS2 area is on a list delivered by Member State, according to article 19(2). • Deadline for delivering lists: March 2010 • Progress: half of the reports by now • Commission is evaluating the reports, subsequently publishing on the transparency platform • In the pipeline: Commission report under article 19(4): feasibility of applying 19(2) approach to third countries

10. Indirect land use change • Land use change as a result of displacement effects • Commission to report: • Reviewing the impact indirect land use change • Addressing ways to minimise the impact. (If appropriate, methodology for emissions from carbon stock changes cause by indirect land use change.) • Timeline • Pre-consultation workshops on ‘policy elements’ held July 2009 • Commission currently conducting four studies • Public consultation soon • Commission report by end 2010 • In case of proposal, aim to adopt in law by end 2012 http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/studies/land_use_change_en.htm Requirement also in the Fuel Quality Directive

11. Commission monitoring and reporting • Biannual monitoring and reporting (2012-2020): • Land use • Soil, water and air protection measures • Impacts on biodiversity • Social sustainability • Food security, wider development issues • Commodity price changes in Community and main third countries of supply • Balanced approach between domestic production and imports ‘Baseline needed’, work ongoing, see tender http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/energy/tenders/doc/specifications/2009/s112_160619_specifications.pdf

12.  Thank you - ewout.deurwaarder@ec.europa.euhttp://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/index_en.htm