The decarbonisation of transport is one of the most ambitious goals of the Fit for 55 reform package presented by the European Commission. To achieve this objective, all low-carbon technologies must contribute. Renewable and low-carbon fuels offer an alternative to conventional fossil-based fuels to reduce emissions in all modes of transportation and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The launch of the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance is an essential tool for their development. This initiative, launched by Commissioner Adina Valean in April 2022, aims to ensure that aviation and waterborne transport have sufficient access to low-carbon fuels while considering the future use of these fuels in land-based transport, and thus contributing to the reduction in the transport sector’s GHG emissions by 90 percent by 2050.
Since the publication of the European Commission’s “Fit for 55 Package”, the geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically with implications for energy security and raw material dependencies. We believe that in fulfilling its objectives, the RLCF Value Chain Alliance has the potential to contribute to the EU’s strategic autonomy in the energy sector, supporting the clean energy transition of the key industrial sectors for a more resilient European energy system. By providing a concrete contribution to the decarbonisation of the aviation and maritime sectors, the RLCF Value Chain Alliance has a unique role in promoting an integrated European strategy for the uptake of renewable fuels aiming at the twin objective of climate neutrality and the strengthening of European resilience.
How is the Alliance set up?
Following the adoption of a Work Plan in the inaugural General Assembly which took place on 12 July 2022, Alliance members, (following an internal call for expression of interest) started to work together in four thematic Roundtables on relevant aspects of full value chain coordination.
All members of the Alliance have the right to participate in the General Assembly, which is composed of two Chambers – one each for waterborne transport and aviation. Currently, SAFRAN chairs the Aviation Chamber, while Fincantieri chairs the Waterborne Chamber. The first General Assembly discussed and endorsed the Alliance Work Plan, with operational objectives and milestones proposed by the Steering Group of the Alliance. Members will then implement the Work plan through specific Roundtables. Their work will be supported by an Alliance Secretariat, which is run by FuelsEurope, together with Hydrogen Europe.
The Alliance’s Steering Group is composed of the two Chambers’ chairs, the partner organisation for the Secretariat of the Alliance, and the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission.
Objectives of the Alliance
Objectives and priorities have been developed in the first months of operation in a common work programme, which was adopted by the first General Assembly in July 2022. The focus is on helping develop a pipeline of projects in the value chains along key fuel technologies and modes (aviation and waterborne) and overcoming key common challenges and horizontal issues, e.g. access to feedstock, priority pathways, and access to finance.
Who can join?
Currently, the Alliance has more than 230 members. “This number is a big success”, Alessandro Bartelloni Fuelseurope Director highlights.
“The success of the Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance shows the widespread interest for developing a strategy for liquid fuels in the EU." - Alessandro Bartelloni, Fuelseurope Director.
FuelsEurope Director pointed out that the key objective of the Alliance to create a pipeline of investment projects for renewable fuels can’t be reached without the involvement of all the relevant stakeholders. Any company (regardless of ownership or location); all stakeholder groups registered in the transparency register; public bodies of EU Member States; and international organizations can join the Alliance and become a member.
NEWS & MEDIAS
Official Communications
- October 2023: Second General Assembly took place;
- May 2023: Top-up exercise to update the composition of the 4 RTs;
- May 2022: Steering Group Members Call to Join the Alliance;
- September 2022: Open Call for expression of interest to delegate experts to the thematic roundtables;
- July 2022: Inaugural General Assembly took place.
Publication / Media presence
EVENTS
Official Meetings/Events for Members
- 6th April 2022: official launch of the RLCF Alliance in the presence of Commissioner Adina Valean ;
- 28th April 2022: First High-Level Steering Group Meeting;
- 6th July 2022: Second High-Level Steering Group Meeting preparing for the first General Assembly;
- 12th July 2022: First General Assembly, EC Premises at Albert Borschette Conference Centre, Bruxelles;
- 21st & 22nd November: Roundtables Kick-Off Meetings, Brussels;
- January 2023: 2nd Roundtables meetings;
- March 2023: 3rd Roundtables Meetings;
- 29th March 2023: 1st RLCF Alliance Workshop, Brussels;
- End of April/May 2023: 4th Roundtables Meetings;
- End of June/July 2023: 5th Roundtables Meetings;
- 30th June 2023 : Third High-Level Steering Group Meeting to take stock of the first year of operations;
- September 2023”: 6th Roundtables Meetings;
- 16th October 2023: 2nd General Assembly, EC Premises at Albert Borschette Conference Center, Bruxelles;
Public events & External Activities
- 28th September 2022: Participation to the EUSEW 2022’ Policy Conference, Brussels;
- 26th October 2022: Panel on RLCF Alliance in the European Hydrogen Week, Brussels;
- 11th May 2023: ICAO Council briefing on RLCF Alliance, Online;
- 12th May 2023: Participation to the High-Level Forum on the Transition of Mobility 2023, Pau (France) & Online;
- 17th May 2023: Presentation of the RLCF Alliance at the European Civil Aviation Conference, (ECAC) Environmental Forum, Online;
- 31st May 2023: Presentation of the RLCF Alliance at AED Cluster Portugal, Lisbon, Online;
- 20th June 2023: RLCF Alliance Event on aviation at the Paris Air Show, Paris;
- 22nd June 2023: RLCF Alliance hosted the policy Session "Gearing up for the rollout of renewable and low-carbon fuels!" at the EUSEW 2023, Brussels & Online;
- 12th July 2023: Presentation of the RLCF Alliance at the ICAO SAF Stocktaking Event (preparation to the CAAF/3), Montreal, (CN), Online;
- 26th September 2023 Presentation of the RLCF Alliance at the World Methanol Forum in Wien (AU).
CONTACTS
Visit us on CIRCABC, by clicking here.
Secretariat of the Alliance:
FuelsEurope: RLCFAllianceSecretariat@fuelseurope.eu
Hydrogen Europe: rlcfalliancesecretariat@hydrogeneurope.eu
DG MOVE contact:
Michał Kubicki, Zlatko Kregar, Ewa Oney, Ricardo Batista, Ioanna Katsarou: MOVE-RLCF-ALLIANCE-TEAM@ec.europa.eu
BECOME A MEMBER
For more information about this initiative and how to become a member, check the link: https://bit.ly/3VfMfx4.
RLFC ALLIANCE CALL FOR PROJECTS
The RLCF Alliance is looking for all the projects that can contribute to the future value chains of fuels supply for maritime and aviation sectors and fit in one or more project archetypes map. This includes sourcing, production, distribution and use of fuels, as well as any technology supplied that is needed for any stage in the value chain – including aircraft and vessels, refinery equipment, hydrogen production, CO2 sourcing and capture, etc.
From this moment on all current and future members of the Alliance can submit their proposals via the new RLCF Alliance Project pipeline and matchmaking platform.
This platform allows participating projects to:
- Connect with partners up-stream and down-stream.
- Find potential finance providers.
- Participate in project showcasing events
- Communicate to third parties.
- Apply for RLCF Alliance seal of excellence, a future deliverable of the alliance under the revised RLCF Alliance Work Plan.
- Benefit from active monitoring to identify and swiftly resolve structural difficulties.
Who can submit a project?
- Projects can be submitted by Alliance Members only.
- In case of projects involving multiple partners, all partners shall be members of the Alliance, or sign the alliance declaration at the same time with submission of the project to the pipeline.
Project criteria:
- Projects must contribute to the future value chains of fuels supply for maritime and aviation sectors and fit in one or more project archetypes map.
- Maturity: projects can be at various stages of development.
- Ownership: For projects located in the EU, the ownership of the production is not restricted. However, projects located outside EU can only be submitted if they are controlled by an EU entity or other significant link with the EU value chain can be demonstrated.
- Location: Projects can be located in the EU or outside the EU.
- Scope of fuels: for projects that involve production or import of fuels – they would need to fall in the scope of technologies that can be used to fulfil legal requirements under the ReFuelEU Aviation or FuelEU Maritime.
- Destination of fuels: Projects that involve production of fuels and are located in the EU can produce maritime or aviation fuels for domestic uses or for exports.
- Sourcing of feedstock:as long as the feedstock is eligible under relevant EU legislation, projects can be supplied with feedstock for within the EU and outside.
How to submit a project?
- Please submit you project to the website.
