Biofuels consumption for transportation in the European Union 2015-2023

Between 2015 and 2023, the total biodiesel consumption in the European Union increased by some four million metric tons. In 2023, the total EU biofuel consumption reached 18.4 million metric tons, of which roughly 14.3 million metric tons of oil equivalent were biodiesel, making them the most consumed biofuel in Europe. 

Biofuels for transportation in the EU

The largest consumers of biofuel in the European Union are France, Germany, and Italy. Although biofuels are used for heating and electricity generation, most are used as transportation fuels. Within the European Union, biodiesel accounted for the highest share of biofuels used for transportation, at 68.7 percent. The production of biofuels in the EU amounted to 295 thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2023, and out of all the European countries, Germany’s biofuel production was the highest during the same year.

Decarbonizing EU transportation with advanced biofuels

Introducing advanced biofuels as an alternative source of fossil fuels into the transportation sector in the EU has been a critical step for the energy transition. Advanced biofuels are low-carbon liquid fuels that are derived from renewable biomass (except corn starch), which must meet a 50 percent lifecycle greenhouse gas reduction. The turnover of the EU's biofuels industry amounted to 12.2 billion euros in 2022. Furthermore, the EU biofuels industry is expected to grow as the EU set renewable energy targets for transportation, including a minimum 3.5 percent share of advanced biofuels across all member states by 2030.