European Union adopts directive to develop clean fuels infrastructure, implement common standards
Mon 06 October 2014
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The European Council has adopted a directive on building up minimum infrastructure for alternative fuels across the European Union. Each member state will have to draw up an alternative fuel deployment strategy and submit it to the European Commission by the end of 2016. The directive includes the requirement to adopt common standards in infrastructure provision.
Member states will set out national targets for putting in place new recharging and refuelling points for the different types of “clean fuel”, such as electricity, hydrogen and natural gas, as well as relevant supporting actions.
The European Commission says that policy frameworks of all member states will provide long-term security for private and public investment in vehicle and fuel technology and infrastructure roll-out. The deadlines for having the infrastructure in place range from 2020 to 2030, depending upon the type of fuel, vehicle and deployment area.
The final adoption of the legislative act by the Council follows an agreement reached at first reading with the European Parliament earlier in 2014. The directive will enter into force 20 days after its publication in the EU Official Journal, which is expected to take place within the next few days.
The outgoing Commissioner for transport Siim Kallas said: "Alternative fuels are key to improving the security of energy supply, reducing the impact of transport on the environment and boosting EU competitiveness.
"With these new rules, the EU provides long-awaited legal certainty for companies to start investing, and the possibility for economies of scale. EU Member States requested flexibility in deploying the infrastructure. It is now up to them to develop the right national policy frameworks.”
The LowCVP is currently working in collaboration with the Department for Transport to establish a Transport Energy Task Force which will help the Government to examine and formulate options for meeting the 2020 RED renewable transport fuel target and determine how low carbon fuels can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from UK transport in the period to 2030 and beyond.
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