The European Parliament adopted its Report on the Revision of Regulation EU 2019/1242 yesterday (21 November), setting CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles.
The European Biogas Association (EBA) desscribed this as "a milestone legislation to curb the segment emissions".
The association said it welcomes the European Parliament recognition of biomethane’s significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the sector by introducing a CO2 Neutral Fuel definition in line with the sustainability criteria of the Renewable Energy Directive.
However, the EBA regretted the adopted Report's failure to include a mechanism that accounts for the contribution of renewable fuels, such as biomethane, in the decarbonisation of the transport sector.
It said that transport operators and vehicle manufacturers ought to be provided with a legislative framework that encourages them to consider cleaner fuel alternatives to fossil fuels immediately.
Sustainable biomethane as a transport fuel provides a ready-available, local and cost-competitive renewable alternative to conventional transport fuels, representing a key solution in the transition towards a climate neutral economy and able even to achieve negative emissions necessary to attain the EU climate neutrality targets, according to the EBA.
Giulia Laura Cancian, EBA secretary general said: The biogas and biomethane value chain welcomes the European Parliament recognition of biomethane’s significant contribution to reduce CO2 emissions. On the other hand, legislators missed a chance to provide the biomethane sector with the needed level playing field."
EBA regrets failure of “milestone legislation” to account for renewables in transport decarbonisation
