Use of renewable energy for transport, 2005-2017

Obligated share renewable energy for transport

It is laid down in Dutch law that suppliers of petrol and diesel for transport must supply part of the fuels as renewable energy. This mandatory share of renewable energy has risen from 2 per cent in 2007 to 7.75 per cent in 2017 (Staatsblad, 2014) and gradually increases to 16.4 per cent in 2020 (Staatsblad, 2018).
This obligation is based upon the EU Guideline Renewable Energy (EU, 2009). In 2020, EU member states are obliged to use a share of renewable energy for transport which corresponds to 10 per cent of the total use of fuels and electricity for transport. The national obligation is set higher than 10 per cent as energy for transport also has to make an important contribution to the policy target for the total consumption of renewable energy (14 per cent in 2020).

Actual share of renewable energy

Due to differences in definitions, the realised share of renewable energy for transport according the EU Guideline is not always in step with the national obligation (CBS, 2017). In 2017, the actual share of renewable energy amounted to 5.9 per cent.

Green gas

In addition to biogasoline and biodiesel, green gas used for transport may also count retroactively for the calculation of the share of renewable energy for transport. The share of green gas in total energy consumption for transport is 0.2 per cent.

Biofuels

Since 2007, suppliers of motor fuels for road traffic vehicles are obliged to supply these fuels with a certain percentage of biofuel. In practice, biofuel is usually blended (mixed) with normal petrol and diesel. This obligation is therefore often referred to as the 'blending obligation'.
When calculating the share of renewable energy, environmentally friendly biofuels are allowed to be counted double towards the target set by the Dutch government. Today, such biofuels are very important. In 2017, approximately 50 per cent of biofuels were counted double, especially biodiesel from frying fat.

Sustainability of biofuels

There has been much public and political discussion in recent years about the desirability of using biofuels in road traffic vehicles. As a result of these discussions, the EU Guideline includes sustainability criteria for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, reduction of damage to nature and respect for social rights.