Federal Office for Agriculture and Food

Double counting of biofuels produced from waste and residues eliminated since 01. January 2015

According to the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) it applies that the so called distributors have to replace a specific part of fossil fuel with biofuel.

Effective 01. January 2015, the energetic biofuel quota was changed to the greenhouse gas (GHG) quota.

This means obligated companies in the oil industry have to place a minimum share of petrol- and diesel-replacing biofuels on the market. The greenhouse gas share of the total quantity of petrol, diesel and petrol- and diesel-replacing biofuels will be gradually reduced by the following quota:

  • 1. by 3.5 percent in 2015 and 2016,
  • 2. by 4 percent in 2017 until 2019, and
  • 3. by 6 percent from 2020.

To achieve this, GHG-emissions have to be calculated for each individual amount of biofuel and this has to be proven through a proof of sustainability.

However, the GHG reduction quota of 35% in the Renewable Energy Directive will not be affected by the change to the GHG quota.

Furthermore the possibility of double counting bio fuels produced from waste and residues (W+R) pursuant to 36. BImSchG does not apply anymore.

Nonetheless, it is still possible to take biofuel produced from W+R into account when considering the German GHG quota on its GHG savings.

The materials which are considered in the GHG quota are specified in "List to validate any materials classified as waste and residues products on the greenhouse gas quota pursuant to § 37 a, para. 4 of the Federal Immission Control Act ( BImSchG) can be creditable".