WBA news

International leaders, academicians, public officials and private sector representatives participated in a virtual seminar to discuss the main challenges for the energy transformation of Argentina’s transport sector. Biofuels were presented as one of the most efficient alternative to be implemented in the short term.

The webinar was convened by the Argentinian Federation of Freight Transport Companies (FADEEAC - Federación Argentina Federation of Freight Transport) and had more than 200 people joining the seminar on June 25^th, where the trends and challenges of transport sector were presented. The webinar ‘For the Energy Transformation in Argentina’s Transport and Its Challenges’ featured welcome remarks from FADEEAC President Hugo Bauza who informed about the objectives of FADEEAC to be more sustainable and to explore alternative and sustainable options including liquid biofuels. WBA Executive Director was invited to participate in the first panel discussion: ‘Fuel Basket for Greener and More Efficient Transport’. Key message included:

• Renewables have a share of 14% in the final energy consumption while transport sector is lagging behind with only 3%
• Liquid biofuels production was over 150 billion litres annually – predominantly in Americas
• Majority of renewables penetration in transport is policy driven (92%)
• Among EU countries, Sweden has the highest share of renewables in transport mainly due to a combination of pathways, fuels and technologies
• City of Stockholm is a success story with no drop of fossil oil in the public transport system with biogas, renewable electricity, bioethanol and biodiesel making the transport system 100% renewable
• Key policy to develop biofuels and renewables in transport sector should be a price on carbon

WBA also presented the position paper: ‘WBA Position on COVID19: Impacts and outlook for bioenergy’ which included the key recommendations:

1. Bioenergy as essential service: Bioenergy including renewable energy technologies have provided clean, on demand energy and the role in meeting end energy use of electricity, heating and transport fuels should be recognized as essential service – not just as an exception in times of crises, but as a general rule going forward.
2. A bioenergy future: Policy makers should assure investors and the wider energy community of their support to renewables and the crucial role in reducing fossil fuel use, reducing emissions along with socio economic impacts of generating jobs, local economic development etc.
3. Dis – incentivize fossil fuels: Low oil prices, low cost of renewable energy and the wider public support is a perfect opportunity for policy makers to dis-incentivize fossil fuels development by not just eliminating subsidies and putting a price on fossil carbon, but also developing national fossil fuel exit strategies
4. Build back better with bioenergy: As nations around the world develop and implement recovery packages, it is important to have renewable energy technologies and pathways as key themes at the centre of any such recovery in the energy sector.
5. Time for ambition and action: Recognizing that we face a climate urgency and since 2020 was supposed to be the year of ambition, national governments set long term, ambitious

The presentation and video are available to view/download below.  

Seminar Presentation

Seminar Video