Biofuels

Austria Amends Sustainable Forest Biomass Regulation for Renewable Energy Support

Austria has amended its Sustainable Forest Biomass Regulation to implement updated EU renewable energy and land-use rules, tightening when forest biomass can receive support and count towards EU targets and setting new definitions for biomass installations and feedstocks. For operators of large biomass and biogas plants, forest owners and biomass traders this brings stricter cascade-use and sustainability conditions, enhanced traceability and audit duties, and a grandfathering regime that only protects qualifying support schemes until the end of 2030, requiring a review of project economics and compliance systems.

25 May 2026, 15:48ris.bka.gv.atAustria

EU Agriculture Council: Austria And Allies Urge Reassessment Of Soya High ILUC-Risk Classification

Austria, backed by Hungary, Poland and Romania, has put an item on the 26 May 2026 Agriculture and Fisheries Council agenda challenging the Commission’s delegated act that classifies soya as a high indirect land-use-change risk crop under EU renewable energy rules. If the current ILUC classification stands, soya-based biofuels from EU-grown crops could face tighter caps or phase-downs in renewable energy targets, increasing strategic risk for European crushers, biodiesel producers and farmers while signalling potential future adjustments to the ILUC framework.

25 May 2026, 15:28data.consilium.europa.euEuropean Union

EU Agricultural And Biofuel Groups Urge Objection To Delegated Regulation Classifying Soy As High ILUC-Risk

In May 2026 leading EU farming, feed and biofuel associations publicly urged the Council and Parliament to reject Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/2680, which would classify soybean oil as a high ILUC-risk biofuel and phase down such fuels to zero by 2030. If the delegated act stands, EU soybean processing and domestic protein supply could weaken while fuel suppliers must accelerate a shift to alternative low ILUC-risk feedstocks, increasing strategic and supply-chain risk for agro-biofuel value chains.

24 May 2026, 20:37pr.euractiv.comEuropean Union

European Commission Signals Year-End Draft Implementing Act on Low-ILUC Biofuel Certification

In a 21 May 2026 European Parliament plenary debate, the European Commission confirmed its April 2026 update to the high ILUC-risk biofuels delegated regulation and signalled that a draft amendment to the implementing act on low ILUC feedstock certification is planned by the end of 2026. This points to tighter limits on counting palm-oil- and soy-based biofuels towards renewables targets, reinforces their exclusion from ReFuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime, and gives fuel suppliers and airlines/shipping operators an indicative timeline to prepare for new certification rules.

23 May 2026, 11:19control.eup.glcloud.euEuropean Union

CARB Opens Public Comment on LCFS Tier 2 Pathways B0858 (Hydrogen) and B0849 (Renewable Diesel)

In May 2026, the California Air Resources Board opened a short public comment period on two Tier 2 Low Carbon Fuel Standard pathway applications for hydrogen from dairy manure biogas (B0858) and renewable diesel from multiple feedstocks (B0849), with comments due on 2 June 2026. Hydrogen producers, renewable diesel refiners, and other LCFS‑obligated fuel suppliers should review these applications and consider commenting on assumptions that will shape final carbon intensities, credit generation potential, and long‑term compliance strategy.

21 May 2026, 06:50ww2.arb.ca.govUnited States

US House Passes Farm, Food, and National Security Act Of 2026 (H.R. 7567)

In April 2026 the US House passed H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, advancing a comprehensive farm bill that would reauthorise USDA agricultural, conservation, forestry, pesticide and energy programmes through fiscal year 2031. If enacted in something close to its current form, the bill would tighten and redirect funding for conservation and precision agriculture, reshape pesticide regulation and wildfire chemical use under FIFRA, and expand support for low-carbon fuels, rural energy and broadband, making it a key signal for long-term compliance, investment and supply-chain planning.

20 May 2026, 10:04govinfo.govUnited States

US Senate Receives H.R. 1346 on Year-Round E15 and RFS Small Refinery Reforms

In May 2026, the US Senate received H.R. 1346 on year‑round E15 gasoline and Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) small refinery reforms, following House passage and referral to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. If enacted, the bill would cement nationwide year‑round E15 sales, sharply narrow and retarget RFS relief for small refineries, and force fuel producers, refiners, and retailers to adjust compliance strategies, infrastructure upgrades, and RIN credit management under the Clean Air Act and RCRA.

20 May 2026, 09:59govinfo.govUnited States

US House Passes H.R. 1346 on Year-Round E15 and RFS Small Refinery Reforms

In May 2026, the US House passed H.R. 1346, a Clean Air Act amendment package expanding year-round E15 gasoline sales and restructuring Renewable Fuel Standard obligations and exemptions for small refineries and small refining companies. If enacted, this would ease compliance barriers to higher-ethanol gasoline while capping broad small-refinery waivers, tightening transparency, and directing EPA to update infrastructure and labelling rules, shifting medium-term compliance strategy for fuel producers and blenders.

15 May 2026, 16:21govinfo.govUnited States

Norwegian Environment Agency Report Highlights Weaknesses in Biofuel Control System to 2030

The Norwegian Environment Agency has published a 2026 knowledge-base report highlighting systemic weaknesses in biofuel sustainability controls and advising a more cautious ramp-up of Norwegian biofuel blending mandates towards 2030. This signals that advanced, truly sustainable biofuels will remain scarce and high-risk, so companies relying on biofuels for decarbonisation should plan for tighter controls, higher prices, and greater scrutiny of supply chains and sectoral use.

15 May 2026, 14:41miljodirektoratet.noNorwayEuropean Union

France Conseil d’État Clarifies EIA Scope for La Mède Biorefinery and Accepts ISCC Certification

France’s Conseil d’État has rejected Greenpeace’s challenge to the La Mède biorefinery authorisation and clarified that EIAs must cover principal indirect impacts of foreign feedstock supply while accepting reliance on ISCC sustainability certification. This precedent may narrow how French authorities assess supply‑chain deforestation and climate risks in project approvals, signalling that recognised voluntary certification schemes can carry significant evidentiary weight.

13 May 2026, 19:27conseil-etat.frFrance

Netherlands Publishes RVO Scenario Study on Brandstoftransitieverplichting 2031–2040

In May 2026 the Dutch government published an RVO scenario study analysing options to extend the national Fuel Transition Obligation for transport (Brandstoftransitieverplichting) through 2031–2040. While non-binding, the report outlines ambitious trajectories for renewable fuel use, CO2 targets and price impacts across road, inland shipping and maritime sectors, signalling how future Dutch and EU climate policy could tighten obligations for fuel and shipping suppliers.

12 May 2026, 18:16zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

Netherlands State Secretary Outlines Final Steps for RED III Transport-Fuels Implementation

The Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Management has issued a decision note and parliamentary letter signalling that national implementation of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II/RED III) for transport fuels is largely complete and will apply retroactively from 1 January 2026. Fuel suppliers and transport operators in the Netherlands should prepare for backdated quota and sustainability obligations under the RED framework and track potential follow-on changes around the fuel transition obligation, mass balance rules, advanced biofuels caps and Clean Fuel Contracts.

12 May 2026, 18:15zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nlNetherlands

European Commission Plans Implementing Regulation on Certification of Intermediate Crops for Bioenergy

The European Commission has told Parliament it will publish a draft implementing regulation, to be adopted by end-2026, setting EU sustainability certification rules for agricultural intermediate crops used to produce biofuels and biogas. This commitment signals forthcoming binding criteria that bioenergy producers, fuel suppliers and farmers will need to align with, influencing investment decisions and feedstock planning ahead of the green transition.

9 May 2026, 19:00europarl.europa.euEuropean Union

US IRS Changes Section 45Z Clean Fuel Production Credit Hearing to Telephonic-Only

IRS has converted the 27–29 May 2026 public hearing on proposed Section 45Z clean fuel production credit regulations to a telephonic-only format, keeping the existing dates and times. Stakeholders following this rulemaking must now plan for remote attendance by the stated May deadlines, with no changes to the underlying credit eligibility or emissions-calculation proposals.

9 May 2026, 13:24public-inspection.federalregister.govUnited States

European Commission Proposes Amendments to Animal By-Products Implementing Regulation (EU) No 142/2011 on Necrophagous Birds and Renewable Fuels

The European Commission has circulated a draft amendment to the animal by-products implementing Regulation (EU) No 142/2011, with Denmark running a very short consultation ahead of an EU committee vote in mid-May 2026. The changes mainly affect how animal by-products are used to feed necrophagous birds and how renewable fuels from animal fats are classified and marked, so processors and fuel suppliers should assess whether their operations or supply chains rely on these streams and plan for possible adjustments from 2027.

9 May 2026, 07:04prodstoragehoeringspo.blob.core.windows.netEuropean UnionDenmark

Hungary Adopts Decree 488/2025 Tightening Renewable Fuel Sustainability Criteria and Quotas

In December 2025 Hungary adopted Decree 488/2025, tightening sustainability criteria, 2026 renewable fuel quotas, and penalties under its national biofuels and renewable transport energy framework. These changes raise GHG-saving thresholds, boost advanced biofuel and renewable hydrogen targets towards 2030, and add investment- and green-charging-based compliance flexibilities that fuel suppliers must factor into medium-term decarbonisation and capital planning.

8 May 2026, 07:00magyarkozlony.huHungary

Hungary Adopts Decree 39/2025 Aligning Biomass Sustainability and Christmas Tree Support Rules With EU Renewable Energy Law

In August 2025 Hungary’s agriculture ministry adopted Decree 39/2025 to amend national rules on Christmas tree plantation support and on sustainable cultivation of biomass used for renewable energy, aligning them with updated EU renewable energy directives. This resets the sustainability and land-use baseline for biomass feedstock and renewable fuel projects in Hungary, so operators and certification schemes should reassess whether existing and planned activities still meet eligibility criteria for support and for counting towards EU targets.

8 May 2026, 06:41njt.jog.gov.huHungary

Romania Launches Consultation On €500 Million State Aid Scheme For Biofuel Production

In April 2026 Romania’s Ministry of Energy opened a public consultation on a €500 million state aid scheme to finance new biofuel production capacity, funded through the EU Modernisation Fund. The scheme signals major medium-term support for advanced biofuels such as bioethanol and sustainable aviation fuel, creating significant investment opportunities but also tight implementation and performance obligations for energy and fuel producers in Romania.

5 May 2026, 14:06energie.gov.roRomania

US House Introduces H.R. 8536 To Reform Clean Air Act Renewable Fuel Standard

In April 2026, a US House bill (H.R. 8536) was introduced to amend the Clean Air Act and reform the federal Renewable Fuel Standard programme. Although the bill text is not yet available, it signals potential future changes to renewable fuel and compliance obligations for transportation fuel suppliers, so affected companies should monitor its progress through Congress.

4 May 2026, 18:27congress.govUnited States

UK DESNZ Outlines Biomass Sustainability Framework and UK ETS Expansion to Waste Incineration

DESNZ has confirmed in a written parliamentary answer that biomass electricity generators receiving support must meet strict supply-chain greenhouse gas sustainability criteria and that a cross-sector biomass sustainability framework is being developed, while restating the government’s commitment to extend the UK ETS to waste incineration. This reinforces the policy trajectory towards stricter sustainability governance for supported biomass and new carbon costs for waste incineration, but without yet setting consultation dates or implementation timelines that companies can plan against.

28 Apr 2026, 19:56qna.files.parliament.ukUnited Kingdom