Monitoring of renewable energies in transport

DBFZ Report No. 44 is a comprehensive monitoring about application of renewable energies in transport.

The report focuses on renewable biomass-based and electricity-based fuels as well as electricity in the context of changing framework conditions. It is a follow-up and extension of the previous DBFZ Report No. 11 "Monitoring Biokraftstoffsektor", 4th edition (only in German).

Due to the comprehensive revision and extension of the content, the title was changed and thus this first edition was published.

The structure of this website is based on DBFZ Report No. 44.

It is intended as a supplement and, in addition to selected central content, also offers more information, especially in the form of more detailed graphics and diagrams. The corresponding sub-pages can also be accessed via the QR codes in the PDF document of the Report No. 44.

The political and legal framework has a significant influence on all individual aspects of the supply and application chain of renewable energies in transport, their market development and competitiveness. For example, fuel production from selected resources can be promoted or restricted, chemical and physical material properties can be specified by means of fuel standards, or the targeted application in individual sectors can be controlled.

According to the national inventory report, transport is responsible for about 20 % of GHG emissions in Germany. With about 59 million vehicles out of more than 2 billion vehicles worldwide, Germany has one of the highest vehicle densities in the world of 580 per 1,000 inhabitants. Electrification of new vehicles and the use of renewable fuels in the vehicle stock and in areas that cannot be electrified are essential for achieving the climate targets, in addition to avoidance of transport as the most important measure and modal shift.

Significant volumes of renewable fuels available on the market are provided via biomass-based production technologies: Bioethanol, biomethane, biodiesel and HVO/HEFA (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oils or Hydrotreated Esters and Fatty Acids) remain the most important biofuels worldwide. These well developed and established processes enable a reliable, stable supply of renewable energy sources. Moreover, the production of biofuels is already part of biorefineries as multi-product plants.

The use of residual and waste materials results in multiple challenges for the technologies to produce these advanced renewable fuels.

Electricity-based fuels describe gaseous and liquid energy carriers provided by renewable energies. In the case of hydrocarbon-based products, a carbon source is also necessary. A particular demand on the technologies here is load-flexible operation.

The provision of suitable resources is the first part of the supply chain of renewable energy sources for the transport sector. The biogenic resources suitable for biofuel production can be classified according to the regulatory context and their physical-chemical properties. The latter mainly concerns their suitability for the different production processes. The main feedstocks of renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin are, in addition to renewable electricity, mainly water for the production of green hydrogen by electrolysis and a carbon source (mostly CO₂) for its further processing into carbon-containing fuels.

A quantification of the potentials for biogenic and other renewable fuels at international level is indispensable, although currently still associated with considerable uncertainties and resulting bandwidths.

The market for renewable energies in the transport sector is characterised nationally and internationally by biofuels. Global production volumes have increased to approx. 3,800 PJ by 2020, which represents only 3.6 % of global energy demand in transport. The main energy sources are currently bioethanol, FAME and HVO diesel, which are also traded internationally. Other options such as biomethane, electricity or synthetic fuels still play a minor role.

The environmental assessment of renewable energy sources is a very important element. Biofuels require sustainability certification in order to be counted towards the national GHG reduction quota and the minimum share of renewable energies required by the EU. In addition to a mandatory GHG reduction of biofuels compared to a fossil benchmark, further sustainability requirements are primarily intended to minimise the risk of negative impacts on biodiversity and other ecosystem functions when using biomass. A calculation method is specified for the verification of the required GHG reduction (RED II or Biofuels Sustainability Ordinance).

In addition to the emissions resulting from the provision of the fuels, the emissions for the life cycle of the vehicle (production, use, disposal/recycling) are also discussed. During the use of the vehicle, the energy sources used are relevant for the exhaust emissions of the vehicles.

The aim of economic assessment is to evaluate concepts or technologies on the basis of reference concepts for their economic benefits. As a basis for this, a uniform framework must be defined in the form of a system boundary. A direct comparison between energy carriers in the demonstration stage and those that are commercially available is only possible to a limited extent.

The use of renewable fuels and electricity for the transport sector is regulated in the 10^th Ordinance on the Implementation of the Federal Immission Control Act (10^th BImSchV). Here, with the exception of bunker fuels used in aviation and international shipping, the fuel qualities are specified. The standards specified in the ordinance are important for consumers, distributors, fuel producers and vehicle manufacturers, as they all have to comply with them in their respective areas of use. All direct and indirect consequences such as pollutant emissions, material compatibility, handling or fuel consumption for the application of renewable fuels result from these specifications.

This overview provides an insight into the various aspects of the report and a good introduction to the topic.

The website is still under construction and content will be added successively.

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