Icon: enlarge
Less CO₂ through electricity and hydrogen: The share of renewable energies in transport should increase significantly
Photo:
Harry Koerber / imago images
The share of renewable energies in transport in Germany is to increase to 28 percent by 2030 - and thus twice as high as planned by the EU.
This emerges from a change in the law decided by the federal government.
In addition to greater incentives for green hydrogen and the expansion of charging stations, it also includes the end of palm oil as a biofuel from 2026.
A minimum proportion of fuel from green electricity will be introduced in air traffic.
This electricity-based kerosene should gradually make up a share of at least two percent by 2030.
For nature conservation reasons, fuels from food and fodder crops should - if possible - not end up in the tank.
Their share should remain limited to the current level at 4.4 percent.
Environmental organization criticizes late phase out of palm oil
"With the law for the promotion of climate-friendly fuels, the federal government is creating an effective instrument to really reduce greenhouse gas emissions," said Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze (SPD).
It must be guaranteed that biofuels do not destroy nature, said the minister.
"What is meant to replace oil must not also destroy the rainforest."
The environmental organization Transport and Environment (T&E) criticized the change in the law and assessed the future role of biofuels as a setback for climate policy, as they cause more CO₂ than diesel and gasoline due to land use effects.
The organization also criticized the palm oil phase-out in 2026 as too late; according to T&E, other European countries such as France, Austria and the Netherlands want to do without palm oil as a biofuel in the coming years.
"While other EU member states are taking decisive action, Germany is watching the deforestation of the rainforest inactive," complained T&E expert Jekaterina Boening.
The exit from palm oil is only the first step.
"The use of all biofuels from food and feed crops must be stopped as quickly as possible," says Boening.
Germany wants to significantly exceed the EU target
The amendment to the law implements the EU directive for renewable energies in transport.
It stipulates that the share of renewable energies in total energy consumption in the transport sector in the EU must be at least 14 percent in 2030.
Germany fulfills these EU requirements for the greenhouse gas reduction quota (GHG quota) and wants to significantly exceed them with the amendment that has now been adopted.
The GHG quota obliges mineral oil companies to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of their fuels by currently six percent.
It should increase gradually to 22 percent by 2030.
Companies can use climate-friendly energy such as green hydrogen, electricity or biofuels for this purpose.
According to the amendment to the law, the “progressive” biofuels made from waste or straw should achieve a share of at least 2.6 percent by 2030 - provided the GHG quota is not otherwise met.
Icon: The mirror
ene / dpa