BIKE - Biofuels production at low - Iluc risK for European sustainable bioeconomy

Project Information

BIKE

Grant agreement ID: 952872

DOI

10.3030/952872

Project closed

EC signature date 10 July 2020

Start date 1 September 2020

End date 31 August 2023

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Secure, clean and efficient energy

Total cost

€ 2 976 668,75

EU contribution

€ 2 970 418,75

Coordinated by

CONSORZIO PER LA RICERCA E LA DIMOSTRAZIONE SULLE ENERGIE RINNOVABILI
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - BIKE (BIKE - Biofuels production at low - Iluc risK for European sustainable bioeconomy)

Reporting period: 2022-03-01 to 2023-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Advanced biofuels are a key contributor to policy targets for the transition towards low carbon transport, especially in sectors which lack immediate alternatives, such as aviation, maritime and heavy duty. The revised renewable energy directive (RED II) sets a target for biofuels consumption in transport sector to 14% within 2030, with a particular focus on advanced biofuels, thus with strong limits to the consumption of high ILUC-risk biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels with a significant expansion in land with high carbon stock. The use of advanced biofuels by conventional transport fleets requires limited changes to the existing infrastructure and engines, and thus their integration can be smooth and immediate. However, advanced, low-ILUC risk biofuels production faces multiple challenges that are interconnected with those of sustainable agriculture and relate to producing additional biomass without distorting food and feed markets along with addressing pressing environmental challenges for ecosystem services, biodiversity, and improving soil quality.

BIKE is a Horizon 2020 project aiming to support the market uptake of low ILUC risk feedstocks for biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels. The project aims to provide clear and scientifically robust evidence for opportunities of European feedstock that can be considered for low ILUC risk biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels. In addition, the project aims to give policy makers, certification bodies and biofuels makers a systematic knowledge on options for low ILUC feedstock that can be sustainably produced within the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) through closing ‘yield gaps’ on underperforming areas, increasing cropping efficiency through crop and region-specific management practices, and restoring unused, abandoned and degraded land. In addition, the project aims to demonstrate the sustainability of 4 low-ILUC risk biofuels production routes, and to contribute to an informed biophysical, economic, and socially relevant perspective for an ‘engineering-focused’ climate, energy and agricultural policy landscape. A low ILUC risk certification system has been developed and tested on 4 real auditing activities. Based on project achievements and stakeholders’ feedback, the project also proposed a Follow Up strategy, with the aim of connecting target groups and providing an additional element for low ILUC-risk biofuels market uptake.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

The BIKE project analysed the present market status, the potential development and the options for the low-ILUC risk biofuels production in Europe. Furthermore, the study also identified opportunities to enhance the environmental performance of biomass cropping, reflecting also the environmental goals of the Common Agricultural Policy. The performed work followed a value chain approach and combined top down modelling estimates based on statistical data and recent research with bottom up analysis of case studies with profiles matching the current definition of low ILUC risk biofuels, bioliquids and biomass fuels. Moreover, in order to apply the developed knowledge and to certify the sustainability of Low-ILUC biofuels practices, the activities of BIKE are organized around two low ILUC-risk pathways: 1) Cultivation in unused, abandoned or severely degraded lands and 2) Productivity increases from improved agricultural practices. BIKE project identified 4 Low-ILUC risk biofuels production routes: I) Castor oil cultivation in arid/degraded/abandoned land for HVO production; II) Lignocellulosic Ethanol production from perennial/biannual crops; III) Brassica Carinata cultivation as cover crop; IV) Biogas Done Right model for Biomethane production in decentralized farms. 12 real case studies for each production route have been identified and assessed. Furthermore, a dedicated auditing system for Low-ILUC risk certification was developed by ISCC, and 4 industrial scale production routes (one per Case study) have been audited and certified by the ISCC system- Moreover, 5 open labs have been organized involving local and EU stakeholders to visit Low ILUC risk production case studies, representative of the BIKE identified value chains.

BIKE analysis focused on evaluating the sustainability of these chains and identifying strategies to promote the market uptake of these four case studies. In parallel, an add-on module was elaborated by ISCC for certifying low ILUC-risk biofuels production, which was tested on actual case studies in view of future adoption at commercial scale. Replicability potential of the identified low ILUC-risk biofuels case studies in the EU territory was also examined. Moreover, an environmental, social, and economic sustainability assessment of low ILUC advanced biofuels production routes was performed for each case study. An evaluation of both the European and national policy framework was conducted to identify the existing barriers and opportunities, in order to support the implementation of the low ILUC regulation. An additional work has been carried out to estimate the the potential contribution to the production of low ILUC-risk Sustainable Aviation Fuels. Findings suggest the replication of BIKE low ILUC-risk case studies could produce up to 1.5 billion liters of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) by 2030, about 54% of the SAF required to meet the EU mandate. The case studies showed different profitability and uncertainty factors. Sequential cropping with Biogas Done Right model demonstrated the possibility to produce biomethane and enough digestate to meet cropland requirements, avoiding the use of chemical fertiliser derived from fossil fuels.During the project, webinars and workshops have been organized to disseminate the results and involve stakeholders. All the results of BIKE projects have been published on the BIKE websites. To facilitate the quick access of stakeholders to BIKE results, a decision support toolkit was created, as a webpage in the BIKE website.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

BIKE identified and classified all biofuels production plants in Europe, in order to define the existing advanced biofuels production volumes and facilities. In total, less than 5 million cubic meters of advanced biofuels are produced. However, most of the EU advanced biofuels production is related to the use of Used Cooking Oil (UCO) for HVO production. On the contrary, the advanced biofuels obtained from feedstock included in the RED II Annex IX, Part A, is neglectable. At the same time, the project studies about biomass additionality systems have shown that significant progress could be made by closing ‘yield gaps’ on underachieving areas, increasing cropping efficiency through crop and region-specific management practices, and restoring unused, abandoned and degraded land. These results, together with the introduction of a new certification system, the auditing and the validation of the identified 4 Low-ILUC biofuels production routes could contribute to a rapid development of Low-ILUC risk biofuels market sector in Europe. The BIKE identified Low ILUC value chains could deploy the EU biofuels potential by smart integration and a full valorization of existing infrastructures (i.e. EU gas network and oil refineries). The project could contribute to the development of Low ILUC risk biofuels and, thus, to a biofuels sector promoting sustainable agriculture and biodiversity, with potential socio-economic benefits for both farmers and rural communities.

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