EC dismisses claims it aims to cap first-generation biofuels use

The European Commission does not plan to "cap the production and consumption" of first-generation biofuels as it moves to overhaul its biofuels policies, but it will "cap the incentives" for their production, said Hans van Steen of the EC's Directorate-General for Energy.

"We are not proposing to limit the production or consumption of crop-based biofuels. We are proposing to cap the incentives. There's a difference," van Steen said at an industry event in London.

"Will member states have to scale back on their use? No. But if consumption goes beyond our target, it will not count towards the overall EU mandate," he said.

However, there are still a number of reasons why member states could chose to increase the consumption of biofuels. For example, the rising prices on fossil fuels are creating an economic incentive for increasing the consumption of biofuels. 

His comments came on the heels of a European Commission proposal released in October that would reduce the use of first-generation biofuels to 5% of all energy used in transportation by 2020. The original goal set in 2009 allowed for a maximum of 10% use of first-generation renewable fuel.