Publication | Other Publications | Potentiale, Bioenergiesysteme, Logistik
The Role of Liquid Biofuels in Accelerating the Sustainble Energy Transition
Published 2024
Abstract
Sustainable liquid biofuels are fundamental for decarbonizing the transportation
sector. Biofuels offer a viable, economical, and environmentally sustainable alternative
to fossil fuels, serving as a bridge to future mobility solutions like electromobility and
hydrogen, which have longer development timelines. They improve air quality, public
health, and contribute to agricultural and economic development, enhancing energy
diversification, security, and leveraging each country's comparative advantages. The
main challenges for the continued development of biofuels are the absence of an
international standard, coordination and certification methodologies, lack of regulations
in some countries and the subsidies to fossil fuels. The authors of this policy brief
recommend that the G20 and the international community strengthen regulatory
frameworks for sustainable biofuel use in land transportation, standardize and harmonize
GHG reduction standards and certification mechanisms, and develop common regional
and national policies to advance the production and consumption of new biofuels for
sectors such as aviation and maritime transportation. An analysis1 of biofuels
implementation in emerging markets of Africa, Asia, and Latin America shows that
meeting 25% blending targets requires only 1–7.8% of their total land area, achieving
substantial GHG reductions. Favorable climatic conditions for biomass production in
these countries and the low greenhouse gas impact of international freight underscore the
benefits of global biofuel trade, highlighting the urgent need for widespread adoption to
accelerate decarbonization efforts.