Mission To Germany, Poland Builds On Council’s Bioethanol Efforts In EU

In the 2022/2023 marketing year, the European Union (EU) emerged as the second-largest market for U.S. bioethanol, and the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is continuously working at the EU Commission- and member-state levels to build alliances and increase awareness of bioethanol and its benefits in the region. Last week, the Council conducted a mission to Germany and Poland, aiming to expand support for bioethanol within the EU and explore potential markets in area.

This mission comes at a time when individual member- state countries are becoming more vocal about the challenges and barriers associated with meeting EU Commission-level policies such as the hotly debated phase out of the new sales of combustion engines by 2035 and the implementation of the newest Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III), while some member countries are still struggling to implement the previous RED II. In Leipzig, Germany, Council staff participated in the 7th Business Meeting of the International Energy Agency (IEA) Technology Collaboration Platform’s (TCP) Task 39 on biofuels, where member countries and USGC met to discuss joint projects coming in the next three-year term.

“The IEA plays a crucial role in promoting energy security, offering data and analysis, providing policy guidance and fostering international collaboration on renewable energy. USGC values its science-based partnership with the IEA and looks forward to continuing our contributions to showcase the need for biofuels to achieve and exceed climate goals into 2050 and beyond,” said Isabelle Ausdal, USGC manager of global ethanol policy and economics.

In Warsaw, Poland, the Council initiated discussions with policy officials and local stakeholders to gain insights into the bioethanol market and policy dynamics and increase awareness of bioethanol within the region. Poland has sold E5 since 2011, and in May 2023, Poland’s parliament took a significant step forward in its commitment to renewable energy by unanimously approving amendments to its energy legislation to mandate the use of E10-blended gasoline nationwide starting in January 2024. Additionally, in July 2023, Poland made a significant move by filing an appeal with the European Court of Justice to challenge recent EU legislation aimed at phasing out the sale of new internal combustion engine cars by 2035. Poland had been the sole dissenting vote against these targets, arguing that because the regulation impacts member states’ energy mixes, it should have required a unanimous decision.

“Exploring markets like Poland and continuing work with the IEA enhances the Council’s role in global bioethanol promotion while it serves as the trusted and passionate ambassador for free and fair trade between the U.S. bioethanol industry and stakeholders around the world,” Ausdal said.