Drivkraft Norge: Why does the Norwegian Environment Agency paint sustainable biofuel? – Everything

Norway currently has around 3.1 million vehicles that can only run on either petrol or diesel. In addition, we have all the construction and agricultural machines, and shipping and aviation, which also use liquid fuel. We are completely dependent on these means of transport to get Norway around, and mostly everyone has only one option to reduce their emissions; to replace fossil fuels with sustainable biofuels.

From when the current sales requirements were introduced in 2016 to today, sustainable biofuels have reduced the national climate account by 10 million tonnes of CO2. Until today, sustainable biofuel has been by far the most effective climate measure. Going forward, electric vehicles will take a larger share of the emission reductions – but sustainable biofuel will be a very effective and necessary climate measure in the years leading up to 2030 and 2050.

Black paint sustainable biofuel

In the report “Climate measures for Norway”, the Norwegian Environment Agency criticizes sustainable biofuels as a climate measure. The government’s aim to increase the use of advanced sustainable biofuels is being ignored. They clearly state that increased use of advanced sustainable biofuels to replace fossil fuels is not part of the transition for the transport sector, because it will prevent electrification.

Our members are clear that they will only sell biofuels that contribute to actual emission reductions of global greenhouse gases.

Kristin Bremer Bebben
Managing Director, Drivkraft Norge

The latter is demonstrably wrong for passenger cars. New car sales today have an electric vehicle share of over 90 per cent. Increased electrification is happening – but it is not happening quickly enough to reach the 2030 targets. Instead of focusing on one technology, Drivkraft Norge believes that increased use of all renewable energy carriers is important for the transformation of the transport sector. They are necessary and complementary to reduce emissions quickly enough. Large parts of the transport sector currently do not have access to or the opportunity to acquire electric vehicles or other alternative powertrains. How will these reduce emissions without the use of sustainable biofuel?

Opposes adopted policy

Our members are clear that they will only sell biofuels that contribute to actual emission reductions of global greenhouse gases. Various governments have contributed to this by setting strict requirements for the quality of the biofuel. Something our industry fully supports. However, instead of developing the framework conditions so that we ensure increased use of sustainable and climate-efficient biofuel, the Norwegian Environment Agency plans to slow down this measure as quickly as possible.

Norwegian climate policy is governed by the Storting and the government. The Norwegian Environment Agency must contribute with professional advice and studies. But when the Norwegian Environment Agency repeatedly decries increased use of sustainable advanced biofuels and only wants to talk about electricity, we believe they are working against adopted policy. This creates uncertainty for both our members and the carriers.

We need predictable framework conditions and now hope that the Storting and the government will come to the fore and confirm that they still consider increased use of sustainable biofuel as an important climate measure. It’s not “either or” when it comes to investment in renewables, it’s “both and”. Otherwise we will not reach the goal.