MEPs back biofuels cap

MEPs have endorsed draft legislation that would place a cap on the use of traditional biofuels and support a swift switch to biofuels from alternative sources

Under the Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) (RED), member states must ensure that renewable energy accounts for at least 10% of energy consumption in transport by 2020.

Following fears that food crops were being used to produce biofuels instead of feeding people, the European Commission proposed in October 2012 to amend the RED by capping at 5% the amount of so-called first-generation biofuels – from sources such as vegetable oils – that could count towards the 10% renewable energy target.

The European parliament has now voted in favour of a 6% ceiling on the use of such biofuels, while demanding that advanced biofuels, sourced from seaweed or some types of waste, contribute at least 2.5% of energy consumption in transport by the end of the decade.

MEPs also backed plans to continue the “double-counting” of used cooking oil and tallow in achieving the target, and a 7.5% limit on bioethanol in petrol.