What is the German position on biofuels produced from crops such as corn?
Electricity from biomass and biofuels must be produced in a sustainable manner. In future, only sustainably produced plant oils may be used for power generation from renewable energies. This is provided for under the Sustainability Ordinance for the Renewable Energies Act (Biomass Electricity Sustainability Ordinance), which entered into force on August 24, 2009. Under the Sustainability Ordinance, liquid biomass that is commoditized according to the EEC (e.g. rapeseed, palm and soybean oil) must be produced in such a way that its use for power generation emits at least 35 percent less greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. Furthermore, the plants must not be cultivated on land with a high nature value, such as rain forests or wetlands. Expansion of bioenergy use must not occur at the cost of nature conversation. Also, other food priority countries, especially developing countries, must not be allowed to suffer from the increases. Similar legislation on biofuels is being passed. (Source:
