Events

On December 6 and 7 2022, the leading digital meeting place for eFuels opened its doors to more than 550 visitors and decision-makers from business, politics and technology. In addition to impulses on current political processes from MEPs Manfred Weber, Jens Geier, Markus Pieper, Ciaran Cuffe, speakers from industry and science offered exciting insights into current technical developments and strategic outlooks. Among the speakers were high-ranking representatives from Liebherr, Sunfire, Frontier Economics, HIF Global, Aramco overseas, Hydrogen Europe, Porsche, Arcadia eFuels, Nordic Electrofuel, Siemens Energy and of course the eFuel Alliance.

An overview of the programme as well as the recordings for participants of the Summit are available on the E-Fuel World Summit website.

When presented in July 2021 as part of the European Green Deal, the main objective of the ‘Fit for 55’ climate package was to modernise existing legislation in line with the EU's 2030 climate target. Today, with skyrocketing energy costs and looming supply shortages, the ‘Fit for 55’ initiatives have only grown in relevance. Climate policy proposals, such as a revised Renewable Energy Directive can provide vital tools to strengthen Europe's resilience, decisively reduce dependence on fossil fuels and diversify our future energy supply.

Against the backdrop of a tense situation in the energy market, our event brought together leading policymakers, Members of the European Parliament, and prominent companies from our membership. It will take stock of some of the most relevant Fit for 55 proposals currently under discussion and debate critical questions: What adjustments are needed to ensure a secure yet affordable and clean energy supply for EU citizens and businesses? What will be the role of carbon-neutral synthetic fuels, such as eFuels and what is needed to unlock their full potential to speed up the phase-out of fossil fuels and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions? And how will President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act affect the ability of the hydrogen and eFuel economy to take root in Europe?

• Introductory Remarks: Dr. Monika Griefahn, Speaker of the eFuel Alliance
• Dr. Markus Pieper, MEP and Rapporteur for the Revision of the Renewable Energy Directive
• Tiemo Wölken, MEP, S&D Coordinator in ENVI
• Thorsten Herdan, Chief Executive Officer, HIF Global EMEA
• Amy Hebert, Chief Executive Officer, Arcadia eFuels
• Luca Giansanti, Senior Vice President and Head of European Government Affairs, Eni SpA
• Moderator:  Ralf Diemer, Managing Director, eFuel Alliance

European shipping is without a doubt the most important sector for European connectivity and prosperity, accounting for two thirds of foreign trade and almost one third of internal EU trade. Unfortunately, these nautical miles come with a cost: Maritime transport from or to EEA ports amount to 11 % of all transport-related emissions of the EU. It is precisely these emissions that the FuelEU Maritime Regulation, proposed by the European Commission as part of the Fit for 55-package in 2021, aims to tackle. With alternative powertrain options being limited in shipping, the main challenge is to substitute fossil fuels with climate-friendly equivalents, such as eFuels, synthetic fuels based on green electricity.

The legislative procedure in the European Union is already full speed ahead, with the vote of the lead Transport Committee TRAN on October 10 and the final plenary vote just a week later. As the Council and the Commission have not included eFuels in their positions, the Parliament’s position is more important than ever for the long-term decarbonization of shipping. Against this background, speakers from politicy, industry and the NGO sector discussed the possibilities of renewable fuels in the maritime sector and which regulatory support is necessary for sustainable, climate-neutral shipping.

• Welcome by Dr. Monika Griefahn, Chairwoman of the eFuel Alliance
• Introductory Remarks by Ms Vera Tax MEP, TRAN Shadow Rapporteur on the FuelEU Maritime, S&D and Ms Jutta Paulus MEP, TRAN Shadow Rapporteur on the FuelEU Maritime, Greens/EFA
• Ricardo Batista, Policy Officer, Waterborne Transport, Directorate General for Mobility & Transport (DG MOVE), European Commission
• Rolf Stiefel, Regional Chief Executive, Marine & Offshore, Bureau Veritas Group
• Rüdiger Schmidt, Head of Sales and Promotion Germany, MAN Energy Solutions SE
• Martyn Griffith, Director Public Affairs, Cruise Lines International Association Europe
• Benoît Decourt, Co-Founder & COO, Elyse Energy
• Delphine Gozillon, Policy Officer Sustainable Shipping, Transport & Environment
• Closing Remarks by Tessa Rodewaldt, Managing Director of the Maritime Plattform
• Moderator: Ralf Diemer, Managing Director, eFuel Alliance

39 million motorcycles and scooters were driving on European roads in 2019. They are an integral part of the EU's transportation sector and subject to ambitious EU emission reduction targets.

As two-wheelers present a wide variety of different requirements, a technological mix of electric and sustainable fuels is necessary. A technology open approach is necessary to both address the existing vehicle fleet, production chains and and to pave the way for sustainably powered future models.

In this talk with decision-makers from politics and the industry we discussed how decarbonization efforts in the motorcycle industry are shaping up and how eFuels can contribute to achieve climate-neutrality for two-wheelers.

• Monika Griefahn, Speaker eFuel Alliance
• Andreas Glück, MEP, Renew
• Karl-Maria Grugl, Head Of Homologation / Reg. Affairs; KTM
• Claudio Domenicali, CEO; Ducati
• Wolfgang Warnecke, Chief Scientist of Mobility; Shell
• Jörg Engelmann, CEO, Chemieanlagenbau Chemnitz (CAC)
• Antonio Perlot, Secretary General, ACEM
• Moderator: Ralf Diemer, Managing Director, eFuel Alliance           

On July 7, the European Parliament will vote on the Fit for 55 dossier which aims to pave the way to climate-neutral air transport: The ReFuelEU Aviation Regulation. Aviation is responsible for over 13% of the total transport emissions in the EU. It is precisely these emissions that the ReFuelEU aviation regulation is set to gradually reduce with the help of binding quotas for renewable fuels. Synthetic aviation fuels, so-called eFuels which are derived from green hydrogen, play a crucial role in reaching this goal.But to truly achieve climate-neutral air travel and boost the ramp-up of these synthetic aviation fuels, one thing is needed above all else: ambitious quotas.

The challenge is, however, to strike the right balance: What are the technical possibilities for aviation? How can global competitiveness be maintained? Which framework conditions are necessary for this balance? These and other questions were discussed with over 150 participants and experts from eFuels manufacturers, aviation companies as well as NGOs:

• Impulse from MEP Ciarán Cuffe (Greens/EFA), ReFuelEU Aviation Shadow Rapporteur in TRAN
• Impulse from MEP Hildegard Bentele (EPP), ReFuelEU Aviation Shadow Rapporteur in ITRE
• Laurent Donceel, Senior Policy Director, Airlines For Europe
• Silke Bölts, Aviation Policy Officer, T&E
• Dr. David Zaziski, Vice President, Infinium
• Samuel Maubanc, Head of EU Affairs, Neste
• Dr. Martin Adler, Senior Researcher, SEO Amsterdam Economics
• Moderation: Ralf Diemer, Managing Director, eFuel Alliance

Soaring energy prices, record high inflation, markets recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic – Europe and its citizens are feeling the pinch from current and recent crises. The implications for affordable mobility for all consumers are immense. Some of the core values of the European Union – freedom of movement and equality – are facing major challenges. More than ever, Europe needs energy carriers that strengthen the efforts to tackle climate change, address social concerns and come from reliable sources. But how can Europe manage this balancing act? What steps are necessary for Europe to find a way out and not to stumble on its Achilles heel – its high dependence on imported fossil fuels? How could the current crisis be turned into an opportunity for the European Union?

Together with leading policymakers, experts, scientists, associations and consumer organisations from around Europe we will discuss topics ranging from the future of the combustion engine to an appropriate legal framework for achieving the climate goals and impact of the global energy situation on the transport sector. 

Speakers:

• Jens Gieseke, Member of the European Parliament, Member in Committee on Transport and Tourism, Group of the European People's Party
• Prof. Dr. Hubertus Bardt,Managing Director, Head of Research, German Economic Institute (IW)
• Karsten Schulze, President Technology, General German Automobile Club (ADAC)
• Sigrid de Vries, Secretary General, European Association of Automotive Suppliers (CLEPA)
• John Cooper, Director General, FuelsEurope

Moderator: Ralf Diemer, Managing Director, eFuel Alliance 

Climate change is a global challenge that requires global solutions. World-wide partnerships will therefore have to play key role in the transition to a green economy. In the energy sector, international cooperation provides the opportunity to meet individual nations’ energy demands while driving a global transition. Carbon-neutral energy carriers such as green hydrogen offer huge potential – both for the climate and the economy. eFuels, a hydrogen derivative, can be transported over long distances and used in different sectors. But how can countries around the world profit from a global green hydrogen ecosystem? What needs to be done to make energy partnerships a success and what should fair cooperation look like?

Together with leading policymakers, experts, scientists, and companies from around the globe we discussed topics ranging from production and transport of renewable fuels in different regions to the policies required to ensure that everyone wins from global energy partnerships.

Welcome: Dr. Monika Griefahn, Chairwoman of the eFuel Alliance
Introductory Keynote: Tanja Gönner, Chair of the Management Board, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)

Panelists:

• Dr. Stefan Liebing, Chairman, German African Business Association
• Jochen Bard, Division Director Energy Process Technology, Fraunhofer Institute for Energy Economics and Energy System Technology
• Clara Bowman, General Manager, HIF Global, Chile
• Janita Naidoo, Vice President, Business Development, Sasol, South Africa
• James Mnyupe, Economic Advisor to the President of the Republic of Namibia, Namibia’s Green Hydrogen Commissioner

Moderator: Ralf Diemer, Managing Director, eFuel Alliance

The review of the CO2 fleet regulation and the proposed ban on internal combustion engines are setting the transport policy agenda in many countries. And yet, there is a way how to get the internal combustion engines climate-neutral: A crediting system for renewable fuels.

While the potential of internal combustion engines powered by renewable fuels played a role in the coalition negotiations of the future German government, the European Commission opposes such a solution.

But are the Commission's concerns justified?

Would a crediting system really blur responsibilities to reach the EU CO2 emission targets – or could it lead to a better climate policy integration and coordination?

Would it really undermine the effectiveness and efficiency of the regulation – or does it simply provide the automotive industry with an additional voluntary compliance option?

Would it increase the administrative burden and complexity – or can already existing structures and procedures be used?

We are pleased to have discussed these and more questions with our participants and esteemed speakers from politics and industry:

• Introductory remarks by Dr. Monika Griefahn (Former Minister of Environment, Lower Saxony, Speaker of the eFuel Alliance) 
• Industrial keynote by Dr. Martin Berger (Vice President Corporate Research and Advanced Engineering, MAHLE)
• Political keynote by MEP Jens Gieseke (Member of the European Parliament, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism)
• Summarizing Statements by Sigrid de Vries, General Secretary of the Association of Automotive Supplier (CLEPA), and Dr. Jens Andersen, General Secretary of the Association of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVA),

Additionally, Frontier Economics, who developed the crediting system on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, presented the new study “Critical review of the European Commission’s Impact Assessment”.

55% – that’s the magic number needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by the end of the decade and set the European Union on track to meet its 2050 target of a climate-neutral economy. To become a greener Union, our lives will have to change significantly. Will the Fit for 55 package be able to lay the necessary groundwork? How fit is the revised European legislative architecture really to tackle the challenges ahead and avert the looming climate crisis? What must a future-proof climate policy look like to master the European energy and mobility transition, fuel a sustainable economy and make the Green Deal a success story? We are glad to have been able to discuss these and more questions together with leading policymakers, prominent companies from our membership and over 270 participants, after introductory remarks from Dr. Monika Griefahn (Chairwoman of the Board of the eFuel Alliance, Former Minister of Environment, Lower Saxony) . In case you missed the event or want to rewatch it, the recording is available via the link below.

Panelists:

• Daniel Mes(Member of the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans)
• Jens Geier(Member of the European Parliament, Head of the SPD delegation, Rapporteur for the EU Hydrogen Strategy, Member in the ITRE Committee)
• Jakob Lagercrantz (CEO, Swedish 2030-Secretariat)
• Christian Schultze(Deputy General Manager, Director Research and Operations, Mazda Motor Europe)
• Eelco Dekker­(Chief Representative Europe, Methanol Institute)

What does technology neutrality mean? Is it just an excuse to do nothing, like some critics say? Or should an economy and a society moreover rely on a range of available technologies to enable competition? And if so:

Can climate goals be achieved by this competition of technologies? Should politics, enterprises or customers decide which technologies are appropriate? How can ambitious climate targets be achieved and how should the regulatory framework for this look like? How do we need to connect different sectors to help each other?
 

We were glad to be able to discuss these and more questions on 15.06.2021 with our guests Dr. Uwe Gackstatter (President Powertrain Solutions, Robert Bosch Group), Jakob Lagercrantz (CEO, Swedish 2030-secretariat), Dr. Philipp Furler (CTO, Synhelion) and Matthias Maedge (Advocacy Director, International Road Transport Union), with introductory remarks by Dr. Monika Griefahn (Former Minister of Environment, Lower Saxony, Member of eFuel Alliances Sounding Board).

If you missed the event, the recording is available in English via the link below.

On 6th of May 2021, the eFuel Alliance started its digital campaign with the event "Green Deal Ahead - Challenges and Perspectives for eFuels". The event focused in particular on the regulatory challenges for eFuels under the European Green Deal. We are pleased to have been able to welcome former EU Commissioner Günther H. Öttinger as keynote speaker and to kick off our event series with distinguished speakers from amongst our membership and over 300 participants. In case you missed the event, you can watch the recording here or on Youtube and use the timestamps in the video description on Youtube to navigate through the recording. The event was held in english.

Panelists:

• Dr. Doris Hafenbradl, PhD (CTO & Managing Director Electrochaea GmbH)
• Carl Nyberg (Executive Vice President, Renewable Road Transportation; Member of the Executive Committee; NESTE)
• Prof. Armin Schnettler (CEO New Energy Business, Siemens Energy; President VDE, German Association for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies)
• Sigrid de Vries (Secretary General of CLEPA – European Association of the Automotive Suppliers)