At least 5% of all road transport fuels should come from renewable sources by 2015, says a report overwhelmingly approved by the EU Parliament's influential Industry Committee today (11th September). The vote effectively amended a draft directive on renewable energies, tightened up sustainability criteria for biofuels and introduced flexibility mechanisms to allow Member States to achieve the 2020 renewables targets jointly.

As part of the new criteria, 4% of the road transport total could consist of traditional, first-generation biofuels, but at least 1%, says the committee, should come from new alternatives that do not compete with food production. These alternatives could include electricity and hydrogen produced from renewable sources as well as second-generation biofuels.

 The committee also backed the 10% target for 2020 but stipulated that at least 40% of this target (i.e. 4% of all transport fuels) would have to come from second-generation biofuels, electricity or hydrogen. However, MEPs want this share and the 10% target for 2020 to be reviewed by 2014.

 This review should "focus on consequences for food security, biodiversity and the availability of electricity or hydrogen from renewable sources, biogas or transport fuels from ligno-cellulosic biomass and algae", says the text as amended by the committee.

A modification of the 2020 targets for transport should, however, not affect the EU's overall target of a 20% share of renewables in total energy consumption by 2020. Furthermore, by 2020, energy efficiency in transport must improve by at least 20% compared to 2005, says another provision adopted by the Industry Committee.

 Biomass for energy sustainability criteria were also tightened up: to count towards the transport fuel targets, biofuels must save at least 45% of greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels - the Commission had proposed a saving of 35%. From 2015 onwards, the greenhouse gas emission saving mustl be at least 60%.

The committee also inserted social sustainability criteria, including respect for the land rights of local communities or the fair remuneration of all workers.

The new directive will require Member States to adopt national renewable energy action plans setting out their national targets for the shares of renewables in transport, electricity, heating and cooling, but Industry Committee MEPs also introduced flexibility mechanisms into the draft directive making it possible for Member States to achieve their renewables targets jointly.

 For example, it would be possible for Member States to run joint projects using renewables, or to transfer renewable energy  "statistically " to each other.  Member States may also combine their targets and establish joint support schemes to achieve them.

Another provision adopted by the Industry Committee calls on the Commission to impose direct penalties on Member States which fall short of the mandatory interim and 2020 targets.

 The directive as amended also requires Member States to take all the necessary steps to develop transmission and distribution grid infrastructure, intelligent networks, storage facilities and electricity systems that can be operated safely while accommodating renewable energies.