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As the latest developments have shown in Germany its biofuels strategy has already resulted into a significant reduction of both biofuel production and consumption. The market share of biofuels in Germany has fallen from 7% in 2007 to 6,1% in 2008 and experts assure that this year's consumption would even be worse due to still rising taxation of B100 and and the retrospective reduction of the biofuel quota. E10 - irrespective of marketing as general or voluntary, additional fuel at filling stations - is not allowed any longer. This development and the strange strategy of German Government contradicts plans of the European Union to exhaustively introduce E10 within the EU27. While new countries emerge as lead markets for the biofuel development Germany - once world market leader in biodiesel production - is on way to give up its accomplishments and loose a strong industry. We will discuss with political decision makers and biofuels stakeholders at our conference how to turn this development. For this economic and political dialogue it is necessary to have a huge participation and support of the biofuels sector, as all interests of the sector should be represented.
The new EU Directive for Renewable Energies (2009/28/EC) is a ray of hope as it obligatory demands a share of 10% renewable energies in the transport sector for all member states. But still for German producers this could come too late until strategies are developed and support schemes implemented in those countries. And this directive implicates further challanges for biofuel industries as they are now obliged to fulfill sustainability criteria defined in the directive to obtain further support. As usually member states will have 18 months to implement these terms of references in an accurate and viable way, again the German Government has passed even two sustainability ordinances for liquid biofuels: one for the transport sector and one for its use in CHP-plants. But neither there are proven certification schemes implemented by authorities (let alone enough certifier available) nor are many criteria concretized yet - letting biofuels industry in uncertainty how to produce conform to laws. Learn what requirements have to be fulfilled and what this means for all stakeholders at our conderence.
Last year's conference was attended by more than 600 delegates. At the same time, the conference has gained international recognition over the years with participants from 45 different countries which acknowledges Germany’s key role in ‘green’ issues. It is regarded as the leading event for the German and European market of biofuels for transport. The conference is classified as an indicator of actual market development and trend-setting for developments in the future. All scopes of the value added chain of the different biofuels technologies will be represented during the conference: politics, science, agriculture, forestry, mineral oil companies, automotive engineering, nature conservation, plant construction and media. So we also hope to welcome more than 600 participants from all over the world to this year's conference facilitating a gripping, lively and informative discussion in a difficult market.
We are looking forward welcoming you in Berlin!
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