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Biofuels saved 9.7 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2019
In the quota year 2019, the industry produced over 3.6 million tonnes of biofuels for the German market; this corresponds to around 124 petajoules. Overall, the use of biofuels saved 82.6 percent greenhouse gases. The Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food (BLE) presents its annual evaluation and experience report.
Biodiesel accounts for 73 per cent
Biodiesel (FAME) accounted for the largest share of the total biofuels used, at 73 percent. Wastes and residues were the most important feedstock for this type of fuel, accounting for 37 percent.
25 percent of all biofuels were bioethanol. Maize was the main ingredient of this petrol-replacing type of biofuel. The other biofuel types, biomethane, hydrogenated vegetable oils (HVO) and vegetable oils, accounted for only about two percent of the total energetic quantity.
Eight percent more biofuels were reported for electricity generation
Industry players applied for an EEG remuneration for almost 33 petajoules of liquid biofuels (30 petajoules in 2018) after conversion to electricity and feed-in. About 84 percent of these biofuels were thick liquor from the pulp industry and 13 percent were vegetable oils. As in the previous year, the total reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of all biofuels amounts to about 93 percent compared to fossil fuels. Their use avoided around 2.8 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Background
The EU wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the share of renewable energies and diminish the dependence on fossil fuels. Regulations transpose the respective Directives into national law. The BLE monitors fulfilment of the sustainability criteria laid down in the EU Directive in Germany and provides the German government with data regarding the status of targets reached. In doing so, the BLE also provides a base of data for measure No. 16 "Fuel Mix and Development of Progressive Biofuels" in the 2030 climate protection programme.
