RENEWABLES IN ROAD TRANSPORT – GEARING UP FOR MORE MARKET SHARE?
In the EU’s energy mix, transport plays a special role. It claims more than 30 percent of final energy demand. At the same time, the sector, dominated by road transport, is one of the biggest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In a sector comparison with power and heat, the share of renewables in the transport sector is by far the lowest. Solutions are at hand, but have a hard time. Road-bound e-mobility attracts attention, but has yet to gain market share. Low fossil fuel prices hamper market expansion. At the same time, a phase out of crop based biofuels is discussed in the EU. Alleged risks of indirect land use change (ILUC) as well as the food versus fuel debate have left their mark. The lack of progress of renewables in road transport is even more poignant as a modal shift towards more rail transport is not on the horizon. This paper looks at the current state of play for renewables in the transport sector with a special focus on passenger transport on roads.
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