Biofuels and Sustainability

Steam boiler

All biofuels that are to be counted towards the substitution targets must comply with the established sustainability criteria.

According to the Austrian Fuel Ordinance, all biofuels that are to be counted towards the substitution targets must comply with the sustainability criteria set out in the ordinance. These sustainability requirements apply to all biofuels (for example, biodiesel, bioethanol, vegetable oil, and biogas) and liquid biofuels.

Criteria

The most important sustainability criteria are:

  • The mandatory minimum greenhouse gas emission savings for biofuels compared to fossil fuels for suppliers of fossil fuels is currently 35 percent, rising to 50 percent from 2017, and for new installations from 2018, 60 percent.

  • Raw materials for biofuels must not be grown on land with high biodiversity value or on land with high carbon content.

  • Raw materials may only be cultivated on land that was already used for agriculture on January 1, 2008.

  • The requirements for the sustainability of agricultural raw materials are specified in the ordinance “Agricultural Raw Materials for Biofuels and Liquid Biofuels.” The system for verifying the sustainability of agricultural raw materials is operationally managed by Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA).

According to the Fuel Ordinance, biofuels can only be counted towards fulfilling the substitution obligations if the sustainability requirements are met and an appropriate sustainability certificate is provided. In Austria, the proof of sustainability is handled via the electronic system "elNa," which is operationally managed by Umweltbundesamt GmbH.

A mandatory registration of companies involved in fossil and biogenic fuels is required for proof management.

Who must register with Umweltbundesamt GmbH and provide sustainability proof?

Those obligated to substitute fuels according to paragraph 2 No. 10 of the Fuel Ordinance 2012 and thus required to register are the so-called taxpayers under the Mineral Oil Tax Act (MinStG). This includes the following businesses or persons: manufacturing companies, storage companies, registered recipients, dispatch dealers, or recipients for commercial purposes. Only one registration is required per company.

Further information and questions about registration and elNa

Umweltbundesamt GmbH provides comprehensive information on this topic on its website.(in German only)

elNa Helpdesk via phone: +43 1 31304 4224 or email at Umweltbundesamt.