The reduction mandate is a well-functioning model for reduced greenhouse gas emissions
The reduction mandate in Sweden works well. It has led to expansive use of biofuels with high greenhouse gas performance and by far the largest emission reductions in the transport sector within the EU.
The project has compared policy instruments, production and consumption of biofuels in the 27 EU countries and analyzed the connections and how Sweden is affected.
The results show that the Swedish reduction mandate works well, as it specifically steers towards reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Increasing levels of reduction will mean an increased need for biofuels with high greenhouse gas performance, while demand for this type of biofuel is also likely to increase in the rest of the EU and the rest of the world.
Sweden currently imports more than half of the biofuels. In order to have access to the biofuels needed to meet the reduction mandate at a sustainable price, it will be crucial that there is sufficient supply of sustainable raw materials and that production capacity is expanded as demand within the EU increases.
Project conclusions in summary:
- The reduction mandate, which steers towards using biofuels with high greenhouse gas performance, works better than mixing mandates based on volume or energy.
- Blend-in mandates spur national consumption, but not necessarily production.
- Competition for biofuels and the raw materials from which they are produced, may increase with increased climate ambitions within the EU.
- Fuel producers in Sweden and other EU countries are actively developing new technologies and working to ensure the supply of raw materials.
- New production facilities, in Sweden as well as other EU countries, are being designed to be able to switch other bio-products as the electrification of the road transport sector reduces the need for biofuels.
- New production facilities based on established technology are located mainly in the vicinity of existing infrastructure, but for new technologies, facilities can be established where a knowledge base has been built up through R&D activities.
Results from the project were presented (in Swedish) in a webinar on 12 May 2022:
Results
Final report (in Swedish) Executive summary (in Swedish) Interim report (in Swedish) Webinar presentation 12 May 2022 (in Swedish)Facts
Manager
Liv Lundberg, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Contact
liv.lundberg@ri.se
Participants
Jonas Zetterholm, Olivia Cintas and Sujeetha Selvakkumaran, RISE
Time plan
3 August 2020 - 31 December 2021
Total project cost
820 748 SEK
Funding
The Swedish Energy Agency, the f3 partner organisations, Chalmers, Lantmännen, Preem, RISE, Scania and St1 Sweden.
Swedish Energy Agency's project number within the collaborative research program
50479-1
The project's working group also includes representatives from industry - both producers and users - and researchers involved in biofuels in Sweden. The group, consisting of Lantmännen, E.on, Scania, Preem, St1 and Chalmers, will provide the project with business specific insights, ideas and other relevant input on a regular basis.