European Commission approves €4.7 billion public support scheme for advanced biomethane and biofuels in Italy

The European Commission has approved under EU State aid rules an Italian support scheme for the production and distribution of advanced biofuels, including advanced biomethane. The measure will contribute to reaching EU energy and climate change goals while limiting distortions of competition.

The Italian scheme supports the production and distribution of advanced biofuels and advanced biomethane, also known as second and third-generation biofuels, for use in the transport sector. The scheme has an indicative budget of €4.7 billion and will run from 2018 until 2022.

According to the EU Commission the measure will help Italy reach its 2020 target for the use of renewable energy in transport, fight climate change and replace fossil fuels in the transport sector, while at the same time limiting distortions of competition, in line with the Commission's 2014 Guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy.

Read the full press release here: (http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-1441_en.htm?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=6495f00aee-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_03_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-6495f00aee-190054521)