On January 22, 2024, the 21st International Conference on Renewable Mobility "Fuels of the Future" will open its doors in the CityCube Berlin. Artur Auernhammer, BBE Chairman of the Board, will open the two-day congress. Please find his opening letter below.

Berlin, the 28th september 2023

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

on behalf of the 5 associations organising this annual conference, I am delighted to welcome you to the 21st International Conference for Renewable Mobility “Fuels of the Future 2024” on 22nd and 23rd January 2024, once again with 15 cutting-edge sessions at CityCube in Berlin.

Over the past 20 years, the “Fuels of the Future” international conference has become established as the top event for the European biofuels industry and likewise an important forum for discussions on developing renewable mobility in Germany, Europe and internationally. At the last conference in January 2023, we welcomed over 700 international participants from 33 nations.

Content-wise, the conference will maintain its focus on the key strategy of an open-minded stance towards all technologies. In 2024, the conference will again offer you scope to exchange ideas and network during a fascinating programme with over 60 presentations on current industry developments, the economic and legal framework for renewable fuels, feedstocks, technological developments, innovations, and sales potential in international markets. As usual, the conference will be held in two languages (German and English).  

The slogan for the conference is “Fuels of the Future 2024 – Navigator for Sustainable Mobility”!

That is a very apt way to express how crucial it is to steer a clear political course and, above all, to navigate safely (with an eye to security of investments) through the multiple tiers of the implementation jungle to attain the highly ambitious, demanding goals of climate change mitigation and, in particular, to create a sustainable, climate-friendly transport sector.

Climate change mitigation that has an immediate impact faces immense challenges. By way of example, the appraisal of the German government’s current climate action policy in the 2023 projection report from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA), published in August, clearly indicates that it will be virtually impossible to attain the national targets for climate change mitigation in 2030 and 2045 unless additional measures are adopted. Even though the overall reductions shortfall has been cut by 70 percent compared to the previous forecast, it still amounts to 331 million tonnes of climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. As has also previously been the case, the target overshoot in the transport sector will be especially dramatic: a cumulative 210 million tonnes. Given this state of affairs, the goal of net greenhouse gas neutrality by 2045 will not be achieved. These figures from the report thus indicate very clearly that additional measures are essential to attain the climate targets that have been established. That key conclusion also applies to the mobility sector across Europe and globally: the transport sector’s contribution to sustainable climate change mitigation is completely insufficient and further targeted measures are called for on this front.

There are however solutions that can be implemented at once to bring about the mobility transformation that is so urgently required: immediate steps must be taken to make headway on  renewable energies more rapidly, dynamically and efficiently, particularly in transport, in order to speed up the process of weaning the sector off fossil energy imports, with all the dependencies they trigger, and, above all, to achieve the ambitious climate change mitigation targets. Drawing on all available technology options is the only way to make this a success.  Sustainable biofuels and renewable fuels are a vital part of the equation for immediately effective climate change mitigation and energy supply security.

Biofuels reduce emissions by up to 84 percent compared to fossil fuels and saved around 11.1 million tonnes of climate-disruptor CO2 in Germany alone in 2021. Sustainable biofuels such as biodiesel, bioethanol and biomethane, along with the broad range of other innovative renewable fuels, therefore form the backbone of greenhouse gas reduction in the mobility sector. That makes consistent utilisation of sustainable biofuels and other renewable fuels an essential instrument to combat climate change effectively in the transport sector. A comprehensive national and international strategy for alternative fuels and drive systems must be developed to implement this approach – for all types of transport. Biofuels and renewable fuels offer viable solutions for road transport, heavy-duty and freight transport, aviation, shipping, agriculture and forestry, and local and municipal public transport.

There is no time to waste when it comes to fighting against climate change and substitutes for petroleum imports must be found. As I mentioned earlier, steering a clear political course and, above all, navigating reliably (with an eye to security of investments) are of the essence in moving toward renewable mobility.

“Fuels of the Future 2024” is an outstanding navigator for sustainable mobility, as we are keen to demonstrate again at this 2-day event. Get involved to ensure that renewable fuels’ strengths and immediate impact can continue to play a full part in sustainable mobility and climate change policy. Join us at the 21st conference to keep up to date with all the latest market developments, identify current industry trends as they emerge, and proactively shape future markets together. Above all, make the most of the chance to exchange ideas and network in person.

Further information about the event, the programme and registration can be found at: www.fuels-of-the-future.com

Looking forward to welcoming you to the conference,

Artur Auernhammer

Chairman of the Board
German Bioenergy Association (BBE)