BMW study backs renewable fuels for EU road transport

A study commissioned by BMW has found that European domestic feedstocks could cover between 38% and 55% of total EU road transport fuel demand with renewable alternatives by 2030, rising to between 67% and 107% by 2040 under a high-mobilisation scenario. The research, conducted by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) and Freyberger Engineering, argues that carbon neutral fuels (CNF) represent a viable and scalable complement to vehicle electrification in the EU.

CNF is a collective term for fuels with a lower carbon footprint than fossil alternatives, including those derived from advanced biological feedstocks such as agricultural residues, forestry by-products, municipal waste and non-food crops from marginal land. The study finds the available feedstock base is considerably broader than public debate typically suggests, noting that used cooking oil accounts for just 1% of the total spectrum of available raw materials.

The global raw material potential is up to 43 times larger than the EU’s maximum import requirements during any transitional period, providing supply security while domestic production capacity scales. Short-term imports may nonetheless be needed to achieve full fossil fuel substitution before European output reaches sufficient scale.

Realising the potential will require a reliable regulatory framework and long-term investment security, the study concludes. The authors also identify the introduction of a dedicated CNF vehicle class as a key mechanism for generating the sustained market demand required to support a viable renewable fuels industry.

Source: BMW Group