Forerunner in Bioenergy in Transport

​Finland is a forerunner in the use of bioenergy in transport. In 2019, already 10% of the energy use in domestic transport was based on bioenergy. Most of it (77%) is based on a second generation drop-in biofuel, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), while the share of bioethanol is just above 20%. Biogas constitutes 1.5% of the total. The blending mandate designed for biofuels will further significantly increase the use of transport biofuels in the 2020s’. In addition to this regulation, consumers can also voluntarily choose to tank pure HVO in some 120 stations around the country. In those stations around 20% of the drivers pick the renewable product. Similarly, bioethanol (RE85) can be selected in tens of stations and gas in around 50 stations. Again, consumers can choose between fossil gas and biogas.

The use of liquid and gaseous biofuels has helped to cut the greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector. In 2019 the domestic transport emissions were more than 12% lower than in 2005. The government target is to cut transport emissions 50% by 2030 from 2005 levels so the challenge is still considerable and further emission reductions generated via biofuels crucial for the achievement of the target.