Renewable energy in road transport

In 2018, the European Parliament and the Council published a directive to promote the use of energy from renewable sources (RED II). In order to integrate the use of renewable energy in the transport sector, each Member State has to ensure that the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption in the transport sector is at least 14 % by 2030 (minimum share) in accordance with an indicative rate set by the Member State.

Given that the transport sector accounts for 23.4 % of our national energy consumption (source: Belgian Energy Data Overview – January 2024), this sector can be one of the engines for achieving our energy transition objectives.

Possibilities for renewable energy in road transport

The Act of 31 July 2023 defines 6 categories (A-F) of renewable energy in transport:

1. Biofuels for which a European or Belgian standard already exists (e.g., biodiesel, ethanol).
2. Biofuels for which no European or Belgian standard exists yet and which can still be blended into fossil motor fuels.
   • Such fuels may be placed on the market if a technical file for them is approved and if the Directorate-General for Energy issues a permit for them.
3. Category A or B biofuels produced from a feedstock that can be double-counted according to the criteria of Directive 2018/2001/EC.
   • Such fuels may be placed on the market if a technical file for them is approved and if the Directorate-General for Energy issues a permit for them.
4. Renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO):
   gaseous or liquid fuels whose energy content comes from renewable sources other than biomass and whose use is authorised by the minister (e.g., hydrogen produced from wind or solar energy).
5. Recycled carbon fuel (RCF): gaseous or liquid fuels produced from:
   • liquid or solid waste streams of non-renewable origin that are not suitable for material recovery in accordance with Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC on waste;
   • or waste treatment and exhaust gas of non-renewable origin produced as an unavoidable and unintended consequence of the production process at industrial facilities;
   • and whose use is authorised by the minister;
6. Electricity from renewable sources:
   the share of electricity from renewable sources in electricity supplied to a final consumer in the transport sector. This share is determined by applying the correction factor.

Derogation procedure for marketing non-standard biofuel or pure rapeseed oil

A derogation may be granted for marketing biofuels when, once mixed with diesel or petrol, they do not meet the requirements of standards EN 590 and EN 228. On the other hand, a derogation may be requested for the use of pure rapeseed oil.

These requests for derogation must meet the requirements of the Royal Decree of 22 November 2006 laying down the rules for placing non-standardised biofuels on the market. The parties involved in the project make a request by registered letter to the Directorate-General for Energy, using the specific project form (DOC, 42 KB). The form must be prepared in two copies to be sent to the following address:

The project is then transmitted by the Directorate-General for Energy to the DG Environment of the FPS Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment for approval. The application can only be considered positively with the joint agreement of the two competent authorities. If applicable, the DG Energy notifies the joint decision, by registered mail within three months of the application.

Legal obligations and objectives

The Act of 31 July 2023 also sets targets in several areas, each time with regard to the total amount of liquid and gaseous fuels released for consumption in the road transport sector per calendar year.

1. Minimum % of products in categories A, B, C, D, E or F
   • 2024: > 10.5 %
   • 2025: > 12.2 %
   • 2027: > 13.15 %
   • 2030: > 13.9 %
2. Minimum % of advanced biofuels
   • 2024: > 0.22 %
   • 2025: > 1.1 %
   • 2030: > 4.2 %
3. Minimum % of biofuels in petrol
   • 2024: > 5.7 %
   • 2027: > 4 %
4. Minimum % of biofuels in gas oil/diesel
   • 2024: > 5.7 %
   • 2027: > 2.5 %
5. Maximum % of fuel based on category E recycled carbon
   • 2024: < 2 %
6. Maximum % of first-generation biofuels produced neither from food and feed crops nor from feedstocks listed in Annex IV, Part B, of the Royal Decree of 16 July 2014
   • 2024: < 1 %
7. Maximum % of first-generation biofuels produced from feedstocks listed in Annex IV, Part B, of the Royal Decree of 16 July 2014
   • 2024: < 2 %
8. No biofuels produced from palm or soybean oil, including other products derived directly or indirectly from the oil palm or soybeans. (This does not apply to biofuels produced from feedstocks listed in Annex IV of the Royal Decree of 16 July 2014 or to biofuels, bioliquids or biomass fuels certified as having a low risk of indirect land use change)
9. Maximum % of biofuels produced from food and feed crops in petrol
   • 2024: < 6 %
   • 2027: < 5.5 %
   • 2030: < 4.5 %
10. Maximum % of biofuels produced from food and feed crops in gas oil/diesel
    • 2024: < 6 %
    • 2025: < 5 %
    • 2030: < 2.5 %

Monitoring of compliance with legal obligations

To monitor compliance with these legal obligations, the “Register for Renewable Energy in Transport” was developed. In this IT tool, oil companies and suppliers of gaseous fuels report their total volumes and volumes from renewable energy that they release for consumption. This way, they are granted renewable “Energy Units” that they can use to achieve their mandatory targets. These can also be transferred to other companies, which have shortages themselves to meet their objectives.

Operators of electric power transfer infrastructure for road and rail traffic (charging stations, etc.) can also use the register to register energy units and transfer them to another company.

With the entry into force of the register on 1 January 2024, the old method (the “biobalance”) will no longer be used. Oil companies and suppliers of gaseous fuels that fail to meet their obligations risk an administrative fine stipulated by law.

Frequently asked questions about the register (French version) (PDF, 196.01 KB)