Almost 80 experts from 11 different countries gathered under the motto ‘E-Fuels in Focus: A Sustainable Future for the Transportation Sector’ to discuss the significance of E-Fuels in transportation strategies and assess their potential. Federal Minister Volker Wissing emphasized the importance of international networking and the need for consistent rules, certifications, as well as quality and sustainability standards for E-Fuels.
On September 4, 2023, a political exchange took place at the ministerial level, with representatives from Germany, Japan, the Czech Republic, and Morocco discussing the importance of E-Fuels in various countries and sectors. Subsequently, the conference focused on discussions between research, industry, and policymakers regarding the challenges and opportunities related to the production and utilization of E-Fuels.
Wissing highlights the role of E-Fuels in achieving climate protection goals
Federal Minister Volker Wissing emphasized that E-Fuels play a crucial role in achieving climate protection goals and serve as a significant complement to electromobility. A successful market expansion requires international political support, uniform standards, and legal frameworks to reduce costs and increase production capacities. Wissing also stressed the necessity of legal and planning security for industry and investors.
“We need to know what kind of E-Fuels we expect and which E-Fuels we want to trade internationally. Only then can an international market emerge.”
Volker Wissing clearly emphasizes the role of E-Fuels in achieving climate protection goals © BMDV
The conference comprised three discussion rounds:
- Role of E-Fuels in aviation, maritime transport, and road traffic, where experts provided fascinating insights.
- Production of E-Fuels, potentials, and challenges, with a focus on the future of production.
- Market expansion of E-Fuels and possibilities for widespread availability, featuring prominent representatives from the aviation industry, the industrial sector, and the automotive industry.
The conference concluded with a press conference where Ministers Volker Wissing, Martin Kupka, and Fusae Ōta shared their insights. The E-Fuels conference marked the beginning of an international E-Fuels dialogue that will continue on both technical and political levels. The goal is to establish a global market by implementing international certifications and uniform quality and sustainability standards for E-Fuels. Federal Minister Volker Wissing emphasized the need to develop clear expectations regarding which E-Fuels are anticipated and which should be traded internationally to facilitate the creation of a global market.
bft welcomes the results of the E-Fuels Conference
The Federal Association of Independent Gas Stations (Bundesverband freier Tankstellen e.V.) also welcomed the results of the conference in an official press release.
“The internationally high-caliber conference demonstrates that E-Fuels are seen as part of the solution to achieve global climate protection goals. We need this product – it’s indispensable,” said Duraid El Obeid, Chairman of the bft Executive Board, who participated in the conference. “We have been advocating for this politically for a long time. However, it is important not to limit the use of E-Fuels only to the mentioned areas but also to view them as a complement to electromobility in road traffic. Firstly, this has the greatest leverage to rapidly reduce CO2 emissions in the vehicle fleet. Secondly, it sends the right signals to the industry to invest globally in large-scale production facilities.”
