1st Plenary Meeting, 17th-18th November 2021, Online
Session 1: Lessons learned: RED1 experiences, opportunities and challenges and its influence on the RED2 implementation
The Netherlands will be the chair of the CT5 transport sessions for the upcoming period and started with the introduction of the new team. After that a representative of the European Commission provided an extensive update about the proposed revision of the RED II (RED III) in the Fit for 55 package and the state of play of the RED II implementation. The presentation of DG ENERGY was followed by an in-depth discussion and question and answer session to reach a common understanding of the complex provisions set out in the RED II, clarify on the status of the various acts and share information on the proposed revision in relation to other parts of the Fit for 55 package. This concerned in particular, targets and target calculation, feedstock-specific questions and sustainability certification guidelines. The session ended with sharing takeaways of experiences with RED I and the implementation of RED II. Member states discussed in breakout rooms on subjects that stood out in the responses to the questionnaire. This concerned, among others, cost efficiency, exchange of data (EU database), interpretation Annex IXA feedstocks.
Session 7: Promoting renewables in international mobility sectors (aviation/sea shipping/inland shipping); Interaction between sectors within the RED and possibly other (upcoming EU) legislation
This session focused on international sectors. Pioneer for sustainable aviation fuel SkyNRG gave a presentation about the role of aviation in the Dutch system, about the importance of renewables in aviation and their view on the effects the Fit for 55 package will have on the share of aviation fuels in the obligation and on feedstock usage. Consultancy bureau Studio Gear Up presented on the recent role of marine fuels as an opt-in in the Dutch obligation system and explained the specific characteristics for decarbonizing the maritime sector with regard to the Fit for 55 package. The session concluded with breakout rooms in which member states discussed their findings on the possibility of valuing marine and aviation fuels within the obligation. Although quite a few Member States have included international sectors in their national policies, only visions could be shared. It turned out to be too early to exchange experiences about implementation.
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2nd Plenary Meeting, 18th-19th May 2022, Online
Session 1: Possiblities for integrating electricity for transport into national systems to contribute to the national RED transport target
In the first session, the European Commission provided an update on recent policy developments regarding the REPowerEU Plan, a proposal to rapidly reduce dependence on Russian fossil fuels and fast forward the green transition. The presentation by DG ENERGY was followed by an in-depth discussion and a Q&A-session to reach a common understanding of the implications of REPowerEU for the use of renewable energy in mobility. Thereafter the session focussed in particular on targets and target calculation, and accounting renewable electricity. Three member states, Croatia, Luxembourgand Germany held presentations on their strategies for electrifying road transport. The discussion highlighted that most member states are still developing different policy instruments to stimulate electric mobility. During this discussion most attention went to the design of a crediting system for accounting renewable electricity in transport. Furthermore, several Member States indicated to need more clarification/guidance on how the use of renewable electricity can be attributed to the transport target.
Session 7: Assessing the possiblities and challenges to the incorporation of RFNBOs into national systems as contributor to the RED transport target
The second session of CT5 focused on RFNBOs in transport. The session started with an overview of the results from the questionnaire. Seventeen member states completed the questionnaire, which yielded interesting results. The presentation by DG ENERGY focussed on the increased RFNBO targets in the REPowerEU proposal to replace Russian fossil fuels and accelerate decarbonization. The presentation showed the need to ramp up RFNBO production. The presentation by the European Commission was followed by an extensive presentation from ISCC. In their presentation ISCC elaborated on the different trajectories that are currently in place to develop a certification system for renewable hydrogen. ISCC expects that in the coming years, renewable hydrogen will mainly be used as an intermediate product. The discussion made clear that the certification of renewable hydrogen and RFNBO can be developed quickly within Member States by voluntary schemes like ISCC, but no legal framework is set by RED II (yet?)
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3rd Plenary Meeting, 09th-10th November 2022, Greece, Athens
Session 1: Feedstock definitions and the effect on fuel availability
This CT5 session started with an informative presentation by a representative of the European Commission. This provided an extensive update on the recast of the REDII, the progress of the negotiations and ongoing work on REDII (a.o. update REDII Annex IX list, of which a draft proposal is expected before the end of the year). A subsequent presentation from Guidehouse on the assessment of EU27 reports on biomass use for 2020, revealed an EU wide growing use of Annex IX materials.
The presentations were followed by an Q&A-session and an in-depth discussion to share successes on the one hand and problems on the other regarding various feedstocks when implementing the REDII. It was striking that the outcome showed that there is need for more guidance on feedstock definitions and clear distinguishing criteria for both the feedstocks included in REDII Annex IX and intermediate crops to better unlock the potential. Concern was expressed about the possible consequences for different transport modes of the RED Annex IXB CAP within the FitFor55 package. A subject that awaits further developments.
Session 11: Joint Session CT5/TF-GO: Implemenation issues regarding streamlining data on (1) biofuels and (2) RFNBOs
This joint CT5/Task Force GO session focussed on implementation issues regarding streamlining data on (1) biofuels and (2) RFNBOs and started with an update by a representative of the European Commission on status, implementation and expected operation in practice of the Union Database (UDB). This was particularly important for Member States with a national transport fuel database, given the approaching implementation date (foreseen 1 January 2023) and the importance of a good connection of the national databases to the UDB. Discussions on both the UDB to support supervision by Member States on sustainability claims and on guarantees of origin (GOs) as an option to transfer renewability information on RFNBOs (including hydrogen) along the chain-of-custody, raised a lot of questions by Member States.
Participants strongly advised the European Commission and Member States to elaborate as soon as possible on: 1. interconnection of national databases (e.g. on different interpretations on feedstock, legal problems etc); 2. use, integration, timeline GO information on RFNBOs with GO bodies.
Session 15: Joint Session CT4/CT5: Verification of compliance sustainability biomass
This joint CT4/CT5 session was on supervision of certification bodies by Member States. A representative of the European Commission started this session with an update on voluntary schemes for forest biomass. Up till now 2 voluntary schemes are recognised by the commission.
Due to art 30-9 (RED) and art 17 (Implementing Regulation) the role of Member States with regards to supervision is going to change. Main questions listed on this topic were: 1. Certification Bodies (CBs) can ask which Member State is the lead-supervisor. How to appoint the lead-supervisor between Member States? 2. Who is supervising the CB when controlling raw materials from outside EU? 3. How to deal with differences between Member States with regards to energy mix (import/export/feedstock etc.)? These questions were already further elaborated upon by a task force consisting of several Member States. Results of the task force were presented an discussed on the basis of the following questions: 1. cooperate with REFUREC (group regulators of biofuels) on these issues? 2. What steps do require formal decision? 3. Who is the best party to do so? Participants concluded that cooperation between all Member States is preferred, for instance in CA-RES an via an EC Expert Group.
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