E-fuels to be re-evaluated by European Commission
Emissions standards for new vehicles due in 2026 could change as the European Commission hopes to re-evaluate e-fuels. These are synthetic fuels made from water and CO2. Wopke Hoekstra, the next climate commissioner, and Teresa Ribera, the future vice-president of the Commission responsible for climate policy have said both revealed this.
In preparation for 2035, “a technology-neutral approach will be needed, in which synthetic fuels have an important role to play, thanks to a targeted amendment to the regulation as part of the planned review,” the Dutch Commissioner told MEPs.
A combination of biofuels and electric motors is believed to be needed to achieve a complete decarbonisation of transport and give confidence to both markets and investors, Spain’s Teresa Ribera said.
German carmakers have eagerly awaited and hoped fro this news. Luca de Meo, Renault CEO and Chairman of ACEA, had already voiced support for a flexible approach that does not favour any “particular technology” rather than putting all eggs into one basket such as electric cars.
Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprise and the “Made in Italy” sector, is also in support of the use of e-fuels, biofuels, and other technologies. But he has called for the mid-term review of emissions standards to be brought forward to the first half of next year.
According to forecasts from the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei document signed by Silvia Bordiga, Gaetano Guerra and Gianfranco Pacchioni, we could see the first large-scale production of e-fuels begin as soon as 2030 but the volume needed to make a real difference may not be reached before 2050.
At the moment, the cost is still too high, being three to ten times more than fossil fuels. E-fuels are also highly dependent on the cost of electricity and the CO2 capture required. It will depend on the balance of multiple economic factors including investments in renewable energies such as new-generation nuclear power which many hope will bring electricity costs down.
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