On 22. and On January 23, more than 70 speakers will discuss measures to achieve climate protection targets in the transport sector at the 21st Congress for Renewable Mobility “Fuels of the Future”. The presentations and discussions will focus on the innovative use and technical development of renewable fuels in the mobility sector.
The Chairman of the Board of the German Bioenergy Association (BBE), Artur Auernhammer, opened the two-day “Fuels of the Future” congress. In the first of a total of fifteen sessions, the climate protection targets in transport were discussed and the potential of sustainable fuels and drive technologies was highlighted. Artur Auernhammer explained the future challenges for renewable fuels in an increasingly complex regulatory and market environment:
“Although sustainably certified biofuels have been making a reliable contribution to greenhouse gas reduction and a secure fuel supply for years, the Federal Ministry for the Environment (BMUV) is regularly trying to torpedo the number one climate protector in the mobility sector solely on ideological grounds and without any technical justification. Although the concrete plans of the BMUV to lower the upper limit for biofuels from cultivated biomass were stopped by the coalition partners last year, the BMUV, together with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Federal Ministry of Economics, is once again taking the initiative in the first known drafts of the National Biomass Strategy NABIS with the aim of putting the issue back on the political agenda. We are therefore calling on Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke to recognize that sustainable biofuels are indispensable for climate protection in transport and at the same time make us less dependent on oil imports from risk areas.”
Hartmut Höppner, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV), prominently placed the diversity of sustainable drive options in his presentation: “In order to achieve the climate targets in transport, we have to start in many places. The use of renewable fuels has proven to be very effective. In the past, their use alone has saved almost 12 million tons of CO2 per year. Compared to fossil fuels, they cause 87% less greenhouse gas emissions. We want to further exploit and expand this potential. Climate-friendly fuels are a central component of the climate-friendly mobility of the future.”
Jane Amilhat, Head of Unit (RTD.C.3) Clean Transport Transitions (Automotive, Aviation, Rail, Maritime) at the European Commission, presented the EU initiative for sustainable mobility and the importance of alternative fuels in this regard in her speech: “Alternative fuels will make a significant contribution to reducing emissions and achieving the goals of the European Green Deal. In order to produce these fuels sustainably, we must set high standards in production, promote innovation and develop cross-modal solutions. This will kick-start an economic sector that creates jobs, generates innovation and contributes to Europe’s energy security.”
Dr. Marcus Bollig, Managing Director of “Product & Value Creation” at the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA), outlined in his presentation how the climate protection targets in the transport sector can be achieved: “The importance of renewable fuels for defossilizing the existing fleet must play a greater role in climate protection in the transport sector. We need ambitious targets at national level for the market ramp-up – the VDA is in favor of a GHG reduction of 30% from the fuel sector by 2030. In addition, the next steps must be taken to develop the announced “e-fuels strategy”. At European level, we need, among other things, an energy tax reform that favors renewable fuels over fossil fuels.”
Niels Anspach, Vice President Value Chain Biofuels at BP Europa SE, presented a global strategy for defossilizing the fuel mix: “Biofuels are of crucial importance in aviation and shipping, as we do not see any viable alternatives here in the medium to long term. Therefore, there is only one way to decarbonize today, and that is biofuels. We have very large, complex customers with complex needs. They absolutely want to transition and decarbonize, but they can’t switch from fossil fuels to EVs or hydrogen overnight.”
The five organizing associations of the German biofuels industry welcomed more than 650 national and international participants from a total of 30 nations and 4 continents on the first day of the congress. Further information on the program and opportunities for spontaneous registrations can be found at www.kraftstoffe-der-zukunft.com.