next
previous
items
European Union flag
Home
Topics
Analysis and data
Countries
Newsroom
About us

Policy Document

Directive 2003/30/EC, use of biofuels and renewable fuels

Policy Document
1 min read
Topics:
Promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport. Directive 2003/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 8 May 2003 on the promotion of the use of biofuels and other renewable fuels for transport.

Related content

Related indicators

Indicator Specification Use of renewable energy for transport in Europe This indicator shows the percentage of energy consumed in the transport sector that comes from renewable energy sources. Values are tracked at the EU and country levels. The indicator is based on Eurostat data and approximated values calculated by the EEA for the latest year.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption in Europe Gross final renewable energy consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed for electricity, heating and cooling, and transport in the EU Member States using actual and normalised hydropower and wind power generation  [1] , and expressed as the share of gross final energy consumption. The indicator was developed to measure the EU's progress towards achieving the 2020 and 2030 objectives on renewable energy. RED ( Directive 2009/28/EC)  commits the EU to reaching a 20 % share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption  [2]  by 2020, and a 10 % share of RES-T by the same year.   It sets binding national targets for renewable energy consumption by 2020 and prescribes minimum indicative trajectories  for each country in the run-up to 2020 to ensure that national 2020 targets will be met. In addition, the directive requires Member States to adopt and publish NREAPs that outline the expected trajectories for their national shares of RES for the years from 2010 to 2020. Countries submitted their NREAPs in 2010. They have an obligation to report biennially on national progress towards indicative RED and expected NREAP targets. Europe 2020: the EU’s 10-year growth strategy reaffirms the importance of the renewable energy sector for Europe. The target of a 20 % share of renewable energy in gross final consumption is one of the three headline targets for climate and sustainable energy under this strategy. The other EU-wide targets are the achievement of a 20 % reduction in the EU's greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990 and a 20 % decrease in the EU's primary energy consumption compared with projections, both by 2020. Together, these represent the EU's triple 20/20/20 objectives for climate and energy in the run-up to 2020. They are implemented through the EU's 2009 climate and energy package and the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive (EED). For 2030, the EU and its Member States have endorsed the following three EU-wide targets: achieving a binding minimum 40 % domestic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with 1990; achieving a binding minimum 32 % share of renewable energy consumption; achieving an indicative minimum 32.5 % improvement in energy efficiency.  [1] In accordance with accounting rules under Directive 2009/28/EC, electricity generation from hydropower and wind power needs to be normalised to smooth the effects of annual variations (based on the 15-year average for hydropower and the 5-year average for wind power). [2] Gross final energy consumption refers to the energy commodities delivered for energy purposes to industry, transport, households, services including public services, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, including the consumption of electricity and heat by the energy branch for electricity and heat production, and including losses of electricity and heat in distribution and transmission (cf. Article 2f of Directive 2009/28/EC). With this, it excludes transformation losses, which are included in gross inland energy consumption. In calculating a Member State's gross final energy consumption for the purpose of measuring its compliance with the targets and interim RED and NREAP trajectories, the amount of energy consumed in aviation will, as a proportion of that Member State's gross final consumption of energy, be considered to be no more than 6.18 % (4.12 % for Cyprus and Malta).
Indicator Specification
Archived
Renewable energy in gross inland energy consumption The share of renewable energy in gross inland consumption is the ratio between gross inland energy consumption from renewable sources and total gross inland energy consumption calculated for a calendar year, expressed as a percentage. Both renewable energy and gross inland energy consumption are measured in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe). Renewable energy sources are defined as renewable non-fossil sources: wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption Gross Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed for electricity, heating and cooling, and transport in the Member States with actual and normalised hydro and wind power generation [1]  and expressed as a share against gross final energy consumption. The indicator is developed for measuring the contribution to the 2020 and 2030 objectives on renewable energy for the EU.   The Renewable Energy Directive (RED) [2]  commits the Union to reaching a 20% share of renewable energy in gross final energy consumption [3]  by 2020 and a 10% share of renewable energy consumed in transport by the same year.   It sets binding national targets for renewable energy consumption by 2020 and it prescribes for each country minimum indicative trajectories in the run-up to 2020 to ensure that national 2020 targets will be met. In addition, the Directive requires Member States to adopt and publish National Renewable Energy Action Plans (NREAPs) that outline the expected trajectories for the national share of RES for the years starting with 2010 and until 2020. Countries have submitted their NREAPs in 2010. They have the obligation to report biennially on national progress towards indicative RED and expected NREAP targets.   Europe 2020– the European Union’s ten-year growth strategy reaffirms the importance of the renewable energy sector for Europe. The 20 % renewable energy share in gross final consumption is one of the three headline targets for climate and sustainable energy under the strategy. The other EU-wide targets are achieving a 20 % reduction of the EU’s GHG emissions compared to 1990 and achieving a 20 % saving of the EU’s primary energy consumption compared to projections, both by 2020. Together, these represent the Union’s triple 20/20/20 objectives for climate and energy in the run-up to 2020. They are implemented through the EU’s 2009 climate and energy package and the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive (EED).   For 2030, EU leaders endorsed the following three EU-wide targets: (i)            achieving a binding minimum 40 % domestic reduction of greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990; (ii)           achieving a binding minimum 27 % share of renewable energy consumption; and (iii)          achieving an indicative minimum 27 % improvement in energy efficiency.  [1] In accordance with accounting rules under Directive 2009/28/EC, electricity from hydro and wind needs to be normalised to smooth the effects of annual variations (hydro 15 years and wind 5 years). [2] Directive 2009/28/EC [3] Gross final energy consumption means the energy commodities delivered for energy purposes to industry, transport, households, services including public services, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, including the consumption of electricity and heat by the energy branch for electricity and heat production and including losses of electricity and heat in distribution and transmission (cf. Art. 2f of Directive 2009/28/EC). With this, it excludes transformation losses which are included in gross inland energy consumption. In calculating a Member State's gross final energy consumption for the purpose of measuring its compliance with the targets and interim RED and NREAP trajectories, the amount of energy consumed in aviation shall, as a proportion of that Member State's gross final consumption of energy, be considered to be no more than 6.18% (4.12% for Cyprus and Malta).
Indicator Specification
Archived
Renewable energy in gross inland energy consumption The share of renewable energy consumption is the ratio between gross inland energy consumption from renewable sources (TOE) and total gross inland energy consumption (TOE) calculated for a calendar year, expressed as a percentage. Both renewable energy and total energy consumption are measured in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe). Renewable energy sources are defined as renewable non-fossil sources: wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Share of renewable energy in final energy consumption Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed in the member states with actual and normalised hydro and wind power generation and the share in the total final energy consumption. The final renewable energy consumption is composed of renewable energy for heat, renewable energy for electricity and the use of biofuels in transport The indicator is developed for measuring the contribution to the 2020 objectives on renewable energy for the EU-27. The Directive 2009/28/EC establishes an overall EU binding target of a 20 % share of renewable energy sources in energy consumption, as well as binding national targets by 2020 in line with the overall target. The overall share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption [1] includes consumption of electricity and heat from renewable energy sources as well as biofuels consumption. [1] Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed in the member states with actual and normalised 15-year hydro power generation and 4-year wind and the share in the total final energy consumption. Due to this constraints, normalized data are only available from 2004 to 2009.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Renewable gross final energy consumption Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed in the member states with actual and normalised 15-year hydro power generation and 4-year wind and the share in the total final energy consumption. The final renewable energy consumption is composed of renewable energy for heat, renewable energy for electricity and the use of biofuels in transport. The electricity production of hydro power is calculated both as actual production and normalised production over a 15-year weighted average (4-year weighted average for wind). The indicator is developed for measuring the contribution to the 2020 objectives on renewable energy for the EU-27. The Directive 2009/28/EC establishes an overall EU binding target of a 20 % share of renewable energy sources in energy consumption, as well as binding national targets by 2020 in line with the overall target. The overall share of renewable energy in the final energy consumption [1] includes consumption of electricity and heat from renewable energy sources as well as biofuels consumption. [1] Final Renewable Energy Consumption is the amount of renewable energy consumed in the member states with actual and normalised 15-year hydro power generation and 4-year wind and the share in the total final energy consumption. Due to this constraints, normalized data are only available from 2004 to 2009.
Indicator Specification
Archived
GHG emissions - outlook from WBCSD Definition: This indicator illustrates the projected trends in transport related greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions (total) refer to the sum of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), perflourocarbons (PFCs), hydroflourocarbons (HFCs) and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), weighted using their 100-year global warming potentials. Model used: IEA/SMP Ownership:  World Business Council for Sustainable Development  Temporal coverage: 1990 - 2050 Geographical coverage: OECD Europe: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom; OECD North America: USA, Canada, Mexico; Former Soviet Union: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan Eastern Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia and Montenegro; India; China
Indicator Specification
Archived
Greenhouse gas emissions from transport in Europe Total greenhouse gas emissions from transport, including carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ) and nitrous oxide (N 2 O), are analysed in this indicator. Emissions are split into road transport, railways, domestic navigation, domestic aviation, international aviation and maritime transport.
Indicator Specification
Archived
Renewable primary energy consumption The share of renewable energy consumption is the ratio between gross inland energy consumption from renewable sources (TOE) and total gross inland energy consumption (TOE) calculated for a calendar year, expressed as a percentage. Both renewable energy and total energy consumption are measured in thousand tonnes of oil equivalent (ktoe). Renewable energy sources are defined as renewable non-fossil sources: wind, solar, geothermal, wave, tidal, hydropower, biomass, landfill gas, sewage treatment plant gas and biogases. Projections are for 2020-2030 from the POLES (IPTS) Baseline and GHG Reduction Scenario (Mitigation), from PRIMES 2009 Baseline and Reference scenarios and from the WEO 2009 (IEA) Reference and 450 Scenario
Indicator Specification
Archived
Use of renewable fuels in transport in Europe A ratio is used to determine the share of renewable energy  in transport consumption (RES-T) of  a Member State.  Article 3 (4) of the RES Directive  defines this ratio. The denominator of the ratio is the total amount of energy consumed in transport. This is calculated using only petrol, diesel, biofuels consumed in road and rail transport, and electricity. The numerator of the ratio is the amount of energy from renewable sources consumed in transport. All types of energy from renewable sources consumed in all forms of transport are considered. To calculate the numerator and the denominator of the share of RES-T, the amount of electricity produced from renewable sources and consumed in all types of electric vehicle is used. Member States may use either the average share of electricity from renewable sources in the Community, or the share of electricity from renewable energy sources in their own country, measured 2 years before the year in question. Furthermore, to calculate the amount of electricity from renewable energy sources consumed by electric road vehicles, a figure for consumption of 2.5 times the energy content of the electricity input from renewable sources is used.

Permalinks

Geographic coverage

For references, please go to https://www.eea.europa.eu/policy-documents/directive-2003-30-ec-use or scan the QR code.

PDF generated on 11 Jul 2025, 09:03 PM

EEA Page URL QR

Topics

Topics:

Tags

Filed under:
Filed under: transport
Document Actions
The EEA is an agency of the European Union

Engineered by: EEA Web Team

Software updated on 26 September 2023 08:13 from version 23.8.18

Software version: EEA Plone KGS 23.9.14

Code for developers

Systems Status

Legal notice

Creative commons license

CMS login