Abstract
Introducing sustainable fuels in the different transport fields in the EU is a very challenging goal, but also a clear priority in the EU decarbonization strategy. In fact, the transport sector is extremely rigid and regulated, with consolidated norms and standards and well-defined economics. Adding more oxygenated components to the fuel mix is also limited by the so-called blend-wall: thus, the share of renewable drop-in hydrocarbons has been recently growing worldwide and in the European Union. However, as a large part of these relates to lipids, the supply of sustainable feedstock has become the major critical element of the value chain. Fast-growing demand from new sectors as Aviation also emerged, that together with Heavy Duty and Maritime represent the focus of the EC strategy, complementary to the electrification of the road transport, passenger cars and light duty vehicles. Introducing innovative processes at full commercial scale requires to overcome the Mountain of Death of processes, where the bankability of not yet demonstrated technologies is the core problem. This work addresses the impact of the EU policy scenario, depicting the status of the different process and technologies, both Bio-based and Recycled Carbon, on the Mountain of Death.
Highlights
The market introduction of sustainable fuels has always been a priority in EU energy policies, given the wellknown difficulty to decarbonize the transport sector over time
The direct consequence of this complex structure is reflected in the still rising CO2 emission trend of the transport sector, that did not show a reduction similar to those observed in industry, residential/commercial, or power
The average share of renewable energy used in transport (RES-T) in EU-28 was 7.4 % in 2017
Summary
The market introduction of sustainable fuels has always been a priority in EU energy policies, given the wellknown difficulty to decarbonize the transport sector over time. REDII [2] established mandatory targets for renewable fuels at 14% by 2030, with 3.5 % of advanced biofuels (Annex IX Part A feedstocks) and 3.4 % of residual lipids, i.e. used cooking oil and animal fats (Annex IX Part B). These fuels and other sustainable are benefiting from specific multipliers: Advanced Biofuels (Annex IX Part A) and fuels from feedstocks listed in Annex IX Part B can be double counted by Members States. When the needed investments is so large, as it normally happens with the fuel sector, where the order of magnitude of the investments in innovative technologies running at commercial scale can be measured in the order of at least several tens of Million euros or, more often in hundred(s) millions of euros
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