Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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523. To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the latest developments at EU level regarding revisions to existing regulations regarding production of all crop-based biofuels. [14916/17]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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The EU Renewable Energy Directive 2009/28/EC set Ireland a legally binding target of meeting 16% of our energy demand from renewable sources by 2020, including 10% of transport with this target also being legally binding. In the transport sector, Ireland aims to meet its renewable target mainly through the increased use of biofuels, with electric vehicles also making a small contribution.  The Directive requires that biofuels must meet strict sustainability criteria to qualify for support and to be counted towards renewable energy targets.

In September 2015, the European Commission adopted Directive (EU) 2015/1513, also known as the Indirect Land-Use Change (ILUC) Directive, which amends certain provisions in the Renewable Energy Directive relating to biofuels.

One such amendment in the Directive limits to 7% the amount of energy that Member States can count towards their 2020 renewable energy targets in transport from crop based biofuels whose use could lead to Indirect Land-Use Change.  The Directive also contains incentives to encourage the development of advanced biofuels that do not affect food production. The ILUC Directive will be transposed into Irish legislation by September 2017.

In November 2016, the European Commission published a proposal for a new Renewables Directive that envisages an overall European Union renewable energy target of at least 27% in 2030.  It is proposed in the draft Directive that the cap of 7% relating to crop based biofuels will be progressively reduced in the period after 2020 to 3.8% in 2030. The draft Directive also proposes continuing incentives for advanced biofuels and the electrification of transport.