Sustainability of sugarcane in focus: in April 2024, Bonsucro launched the version 2.1 of the Bonsucro Eu-Red standard, allowing supply chain plants and operators to meet sustainability requirements for biofuels, Bioliquids and Biomass Fuels, according to the European Renewable Energy Directive 2018/2001 (Red2). This update brings significant changes and replaces the previous version, incorporating additional requirements of the implementation regulation 2022/996 of the European Commission.
RED III
The revised directive (EU) 2018/2001, Originally known as Red II (Renewable Energy Directive II), was published in 11 december 2018 and located in a common condition for promoting the use of energy from renewable sources in the European Union. She was later reviewed by the Directive (EU) 2023/2413, from 18 of october 2023, which came into force on 20 November 2023, This review is called Red III.
Context and objectives
A RED II, launched as part of the package “Clean energy for all Europeans”, Its initial goal was to ensure that at least 32% of gross final consumption of energy in the EU came from renewable sources to 2030, with the possibility of review up to 2023. A RED III, in turn, It was included in the package “Fit for 55” and the repory plan, that seeks to reach the energy transition, reduce dependence on fossil fuels (specific) and is destined for the EU with climate neutrality until 2050 and a reduction of at least 55% from greenhouse gas emissions to 2030, compared to 1990.
Main Red III Updates
The RED III Directive reviews and expands the objectives of RED II, reflecting a larger ambition and adjusting to new technological developments and energy challenges. Here are the highlights:
- Increased renewable energy goal:
- RED III raises the mandatory goal of renewable energy in the final gross consumption of the EU of 32% for 42,5% until 2030 , with an additional effort to achieve 45% as a global indicative goal, homologated to repowereu.
- Transportation Sector:
- Maintain and refine the goal of 14% renewable energy in transport to 2030, Introduced in Red II, but with greater focus on advanced biofuels (Produced from non -food materials and materials, as listed in part A of Annex IX). These should reach at least 0,2% in 2022, 1% in 2025 e 3,5% in 2030.
- Introduces stricter sustainability criteria and greenhouse gas emissions for transported fuel.
- Renewable fuels of non -biological origin (RFNBO):
- Red III expands the role of rfnbos (as renewable hydrogen) beyond transportation, applying them to general industrial and energetic uses. Set specific goals: 42% from RFNBOS until 2030 e 60% until 2035 in the final consumption of energy and non -energetic purposes.
- Administrative simplification:
- Set “Renewable acceleration zones”, areas designated for renewable energy projects with accelerated and simplified licensing processes. In these zones, The positive administrative silence for authorizations applies (except final decisions).
- Create exclusive contact points for management of administrative procedures, simplifying the bureaucracy.
- Superior public interest:
- Suppose that renewable energy projects and their infrastructures are “superior public interest”, except clear evidence of environmental impacts that cannot be mitigated.
- Transposition:
Member States must transport RED III to their national legislation until 21 from May of 2025, except for licensing provisions, that should be broken until 1 of july 2024.
IMPACTS AND NEWS
- Focus on Sustainability: RED III reinforces sustainability criteria for biofuels and biomass, ensuring that they do not impair the production of food or carbon rich ecosystems.
- Renewable hydrogen: The emphasis on RFNBOS reflects the growing importance of hydrogen as an energy vector in the decarbonization of difficult sectors, such as heavy industry and long distance transport.
- Market integration: Measures as exempt from rates for self -consumption installations until 30 kW (inherited from Red II) and incentive to energy communities continue, but with greater support for implementation.
Critical context
Although Red III is an ambitious step, There are debates about your options. The exclusion of certain biofuels, like palm oil (due to expansion in high carbon areas between 2008-2015), It was criticized for the lack of robust scientific evidence, According to some organizations. Furthermore, The pressure to reach 42,5% (Where 45%) requires massive investments in infrastructure and cooperation between the Member States, what can be requested in a scenario of economic crisis or political instability.
MAIN CHANGES IN THE BONUCRO EU-RED V2.1 STANDARD
The new version of the Bonsucro Eu-Red standard presents several important updates. The most significant changes can be grouped into three main categories:
- Sustainability Requirements
Mass Balance Rules: The rules for attributing sustainability characteristics to intermediate and finals derived from sugarcane were adjusted.
- Calculation of greenhouse gas emissions: More details have been added on how to perform the calculations and what data to use along the supply chain.
Mutual Certification Acceptance: The new version aligns with the RED2 rule about the mutual acceptance of voluntary certification schemes. This allows operators certified by Bonsucro Eu-RED to accept sugarcane products certified by other schemes recognized by the European Commission and declare them as “Conforms to Eu-Red”.
- Definition of highly biodiverse pastures: A more detailed definition of highly biodiverse pastures was provided, relevant only for the plants.
- Requirements for Certification Bodies and Audits
- Non -compliance: the version 2.1 Introduces the concept of “non -compliance”, which includes sanctions, beyond the categories of non -compliance with existing. A critical non -compliance is defined as “Intentional Bonsucro Eu-Red Standard Violation or any other Bonsucro standard, as fraud, irreversible non-compliance or violation that compromises the integrity of Bonsucro Eu-RED”.
- Audit requirements: Requirements for farms audits were established, Greenhouse Gas Data, bagasse as a waste and union database. Auditors' skills and the minimum audit reports were also detailed.
- Changes to Bonsucro as a scheme manager
- Data Publication: Bonsucro should now publish different types of data on its website and in annual reports to the European Commission, as the status of certificates.
Impact of changes
These updates in the Bonsucro Eu-Red V2.1 standard strengthen compliance with the European renewable energy directive (Red2) and promote greater transparency and integrity in the sustainability certification of the sugarcane supply chain. The changes ensure that plants and operators adopt more rigorous and detailed practices in the measurement and report of greenhouse gas emissions, besides allowing greater interoperability between different certification schemes.
The adoption of these new guidelines not only contributes to environmental sustainability, but it also reinforces the confidence of consumers and stakeholders in the Bonsucro certification, consolidating its role as a global reference in promoting sustainability in sugarcane production.
These changes in the Bonsucro Eu-Red V2.1 standard will have a significant impact on the biofuels industry in many ways:
1. Improvement of Sustainability
Mass balance rules and detailed calculation of greenhouse gas emissions along the supply chain will help ensure that biofuels production is more sustainable. This will promote more responsible agricultural and industrial practices, reducing carbon footprint and contributing to the fight against climate change.
2. Transparency and Confidence
The introduction of “critical non -compliance” and the associated sanctions, together with the detailed requirements for audits, will increase the transparency and reliability of certification processes. This will strengthen the confidence of consumers and stakeholders in the Bonsucro certification, which can lead to greater acceptance and demand for certified products.
3. Interoperability between certification schemes
Mutual acceptance of sugarcane products certified by other certification schemes recognized by the European Commission will facilitate international biofuels trade. This will allow operators and plants certified by Bonsucro Eu-Red to accept and market products from other schemes, promoting greater interoperability and flexibility in the market.
4. Compliance with European regulations
Updating the requirements to meet the European renewable energy directive (Red2) will ensure that the biofuels industry is in accordance with the latest sustainability regulations of the European Union. This is crucial to maintaining access to the European market, which is one of the largest consumers of biofuels in the world.
5. Innovation and continuous improvement
The need to meet more rigorous sustainability standards will encourage innovation in biofuels production. Companies will seek more efficient technologies and methods to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and optimize resource use, resulting in a more advanced and competitive industry.
Conclusion
In short, Changes in the Bonsucro Eu-Red V2.1 standard will help create a more sustainable biofuels industry, transparent and competitive. These updates not only align production with the latest European regulations, but also promote consumer confidence and acceptance, Strengthening the position of Bonsucro as a global reference in the sustainability certification of sugarcane.
See the primary source: https://bonsucro.com/wp-content/uploads/SCH_Bonsucro-EU-RED-Standard-v3.0-EN-1.pdf
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