Europe's biofuels strategy was outlined with a broad brush this afternoon by Andris Piebalgss, energy commissioner in a speech at the eBio General Assembly in Brussels.
He said
The point of departure of this new European Energy Policy, contained in the Strategic Energy Review is therefore a key vision or objective; a benchmark on which to measure progress in re-directing our energy economy to one that will achieve the objectives of sustainability, competitiveness and security of supply. This core objective proposes that we redirect our energy policy to enable the EU to achieve a 20% reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions that it produces by 2020 compared to 1990 levels.
Piebalgs adds
the Commission is proposing nothing less than a new industrial revolution in energy policy, increasing the present level of non-hydro renewables – such as wind, solar, pv, biomass, and biofuels - by more than 6 times present levels in about 12 years.
It is truly ambitious, but also possible, with... more biomass for heating, biofuels will need to become a real and every day part of the lives of European citizens.
He explains that:
a minimum and common biofuel target of 10% of the fuel mix by 2020 is necessary for all Member States. Without this, an EU-wide biofuels industry will not develop, because of the need for burden-sharing and the necessity to create a real Internal Market for biofuels.