In Germany, Der Spiegel reports The Federal Environment Agency (UBA) has raised concerns about the environmental benefits of HVO100 biodiesel, countering the positive stance of Transport Minister Volker Wissing. While Wissing promotes HVO100, derived from used cooking oil, as a high-quality and sustainable solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in transportation, the UBA disagrees.
The UBA warns that HVO100 may have limited impact on overall climate protection, suggesting it could be a zero-sum game. The agency argues that while HVO100 users may reduce their carbon footprint, the reduction could be offset by increased emissions from other sources, negating any overall benefit.
Additionally, the UBA questions the integrity of the vegetable oils used in HVO100 production. Less than 1% of the starting materials come from Germany, with the majority sourced from Asia. The agency suspects that some of the used cooking oils might be redeclared palm oil, raising further environmental and ethical concerns.
Transport Minister Wissing’s claim that HVO100 reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 90% is also under scrutiny. The UBA points out that the actual reduction might not be as significant, with only fuel manufacturers benefiting from meeting greenhouse gas reduction quotas through biofuel additions.
Tags: Germany, HVO100 biodiesel, UBA
Category: Fuels
