France, Europe’s biofuel champion, affirms its commitment to the energy transition at a historic meeting between biofuel producers, agriculture and construction. They have launched a debate on the development of biofuels, an initiative of the French Ministry of the Economy.
Ecological Transition and Biofuels
This meeting is the result of the government’s decision to gradually reduce subsidies for non-road diesel fuel (NRG). The price of NRG will rise by 2.85 euro cents per liter per year for farmers, and by 5.99 euro cents per liter for the construction industry by 2030. Bruno Le Maire, the French Minister of the Economy, has promised to reinvest every euro saved in the decarbonization of the industry.
France, European Champion
According to Bruno Le Maire, France is Europe’s biofuel champion. Every year, the country consumes 36 terawatt-hours of biofuels, equivalent to the output of six nuclear power plants. France is Europe’s leading producer of bioethanol and second largest producer of biodiesel.
Government priorities
The Ministers of Agriculture, Marc Fesneau, and Energy Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, have announced that the agriculture, forestry and heavy construction machinery sectors have been given priority access to biomass fuels.
Next steps
In 2024, distribution of XTL diesel biofuel will be facilitated. This allows for more extensive marketing. We’re going to administratively create the “NGR XTL+” for non-road use.
The Dialogue Model for Ecological Transition
The dialogue initiated at this meeting will continue over the coming months via working groups involving stakeholders and the French government. Bruno Le Maire believes that this model of dialogue can be useful for the country’s ecological transition, in these political times when passions prevail over reason.
It is essential to meet the challenge of biomass production under increasing constraints. We also need to encourage the adoption of new solutions such as biofuels. The transition to more environmentally-friendly energies is vital if we are to remain competitive as fossil fuels become more expensive.
This meeting marks an important step in the search for sustainable solutions for the future of energy in France. It demonstrates the government’s commitment to promoting moreenvironmentally-friendly fuels.
