The German Bundesrat amended the country's 10th Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchV) today so that HVO100 and B10 diesel can be made available for purchase at service stations from 13 April at the earliest.
The updated regulation allows the sale of paraffinic diesel fuels and diesel with a maximum biodiesel content of 10pc — B10 — at service stations. This necessitated the integration of the relevant DIN standards into the 10th BImSchV. The DIN EN 15940 standard outlines the quality of XtL fuels — X to Liquid — including HVO in its pure form (HVO100) and eFuels.
In addition, the Bundestag decided to include DIN EN 16734 in the 10th BImSchV, enabling the sale of B10 diesel.
But B7 is now a protected fuel — so that if B10 or paraffinic diesel are available at service stations, B7 must also be offered.
The Bundesrat also voted today on the removal of the protection grade status of E5 gasoline, but the motion did not secure a majority. This means that E5 — gasoline containing only 5pc ethanol — must continue to be made available if E10 is offered at service stations. E5 gasoline lost its status as a protected fuel at an EU level in 2013. In western Germany, around two thirds of gasoline sales are of E5 and one third are E10, market participants told Argus.
Agricultural diesel subsidies to be abolished
The German Bundesrat also voted in favour of the gradual reduction of tax benefits for agricultural diesel. These benefits are to be completely abolished from 2026, as decided as part of the approval of the second Budget Financing Act.
Accordingly, the current tax concession for agricultural diesel of €21.48/100l will be reduced to €12.88/100l from 1 March and to €6.44/100l from 2025.
