Germany: Second Law on the Development of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Quota

 

Germany has published the Second Law on the Development of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Quota.

The draft law is intended to implement the European legal requirements set out in Directive (EU) 2024/2413 (RED III) and the ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. To this end, it expands the scope of application of the Biokraft-NachV and the 37th BImSchV, as aviation fuels were not previously subject to these regulatory frameworks. The draft also incorporates the amended requirements of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996.

To strengthen fraud prevention—following several biofuel-related fraud cases in recent years—the draft introduces a new requirement that renewable fuels are eligible for the greenhouse gas (GHG) quota only if on-site inspections by the competent authority, as provided for in Article 17(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996, are possible.

The national greenhouse gas reduction quota (GHG quota) will be maintained, supported by the following measures:

• The mandatory reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fuels will continue through 2040, with a gradual increase to 59%, corresponding to a 62% share of renewable energy in total energy consumption under the RED III calculation methodology.
• A cross-sector quota for renewable fuels of non-biogenic origin will be introduced within the scope of the GHG quota.
• The quota for advanced biofuels derived from feedstocks listed in Annex IX, Part A of Directive (EU) 2018/2001 will be increased, and double counting of these fuels will be abolished.
• Only renewable fuels for which on-site inspections by the competent authority are possible under Article 17(1) of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/996 will be eligible for credit under the GHG quota.
• The crediting of biofuels produced from palm oil residues toward the GHG quota will be discontinued.

 

Further relevant laws in this context are:

• Gesetz zum Schutz vor schädlichen Umwelteinwirkungen durch Luftverunreinigungen, Geräusche, Erschütterungen und ähnliche Vorgänge (Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetz – BImSchG)
• Sechsunddreißigste Verordnung zur Durchführung des Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetzes (Verordnung zur Durchführung der Regelungen der Biokraftstoffquote) (36. BImSchV)
• Verordnung zur Neufassung der Siebenunddreißigsten Verordnung zur Durchführung des Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetzes (Verordnung zur Anrechnung von strombasierten Kraftstoffen und mitverarbeiteten biogenen Ölen auf die Treibhausgasquote) (37. BImSchV)
• Achtunddreißigste Verordnung zur Durchführung des Bundes-Immissionsschutzgesetzes (Verordnung zur Festlegung weiterer Bestimmungen zur Treibhausgasminderung bei Kraftstoffen – 38. BImSchV)
• Verordnung über Anforderungen an eine nachhaltige Herstellung von Biokraftstoffen (Biokraftstoff-Nachhaltigkeitsverordnung – Biokraft-NachV)