Eurofuel blog

Eurofuel meetings in Helsinki focus on renewable fuels and heating policy

Eurofuel members gathered in Helsinki, Finland, in mid-April for a series of meetings and technical discussions focused on renewable fuels, heating technologies, and European policy developments. The meetings were kindly hosted by Eurofuel member LEY, with participants attending both in person and online.

Participants listened to a presentation by Teemu Sarjovaara, Head of Product Management, Marketing and Services at NESTE, who provided an overview of the company’s development into the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel. The presentation explored market developments for HVO renewable fuels, future feedstock availability, and the importance of stable long-term policy frameworks to support investment.

“HVO is the most mature solution on the renewable fuel market,” Teemu Sarjovaara explained during the discussions. “Heavy-duty transport and non-road applications continue to offer major opportunities for GHG emissions reductions where electrification is not always technically feasible,”  Sarjovaara continued.

Participants also discussed lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, renewable fuel mandates, taxation systems, and differences in regulatory approaches between Europe and the United States. Future feedstock opportunities were also examined.
The meetings additionally included an update on ongoing European Ecodesign discussions for space and combination heaters. Eurofuel members reviewed the latest draft proposals from the European Commission, including seasonal efficiency thresholds, modulation requirements, and NOx emission limits for oil and gas boilers.

While the overall assessment of the latest draft was considered broadly acceptable for the sector, participants highlighted the need to clarify certain technical requirements, particularly the definition of boiler modulation and its implications for appliance design and costs.

“Predictable and technically realistic regulation remains essential to ensure continued investment and innovation in renewable liquid heating solutions,”  Eurofuel's Secretary General Federica Miano noted during the exchanges.

Eurofuel thanks LEY for hosting the meetings and all participants for the constructive discussions and valuable contributions.