As of January 15, 2024, renewable and recycled carbon fuel operators can apply online to register in
The UDB is the common registration system developed by the European Commission (EC) to enable the traceability of all certified liquid and gaseous biofuels. The following fuels are covered: biofuels and biomethane, renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) and recycled carbon fuels.
The EC has made registration available to provide a smooth start for the UDB, which must be set up and in full operation by November 21, 2024, according to
According to the RED III, all biofuels utilized in the EU are required to meet mandatory sustainability standards and certain greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions savings, regardless of their source.
The UDB is designed to document the whole supply chain of biofuels, from feedstock production or collection point to market placement.
Biofuels supply chain
Each biofuel with its digitized sustainability certificate is to be utilized only once, which together with the recording of when a particular biofuel is in stock and then delivered to a consumer, should mitigate fraudulent and double claiming cases, according to the EC.
Fuel operators can connect with the UDB directly via the built-in web interface or other service providers connected to the UDB and approved by the certification schemes.
Member states (MS) are to establish a national database, or use existing ones, to align and link with the UDB.
The EC is expected to publish annual reports on the data reported in the UDB, including information about the feedstock type of fuels, their origins and quantities.
Meanwhile, many industry players are skeptical about the UDB and its ability to be fully operational anytime soon. There are still imperfections in the established certification process and the audit execution, as well as technical issues, which must be addressed to ensure flawless interconnection between national databases and the UDB.
Recently, over 45 organizations including Eurogas have called for immediate measures from the European Commission to allow the registration of imported biomethane and biomethane-based fuels (bio-methanol) in the UDB.
The RED III extended the scope of the UDB to all renewable and recycled fuels, including biomethane-based fuels, that demonstrate full compliance with the required sustainability criteria. The EC decision to restrict the imports of certified biomethane can negatively impact EU customers relying on these fuels to achieve climate targets.
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