The European Waste-Based and Advanced Biodiesel Association (EWABA) has officially launched the second pilot of the Union Database for Biofuels (UDB), in collaboration with Bioledger, a UK-based service provider. This marks a significant step in advancing transparency and traceability within the EU biofuels supply chain.
EWABA, representing over 60 stakeholders from the EU’s waste-based and advanced biodiesel sector, initiated this second pilot to address several key objectives. These include identifying and resolving any technical issues with the UDB system, ensuring robust information security measures, and addressing administrative barriers to implementation. The pilot will also test the system’s readiness for economic operators to use the UDB’s Proof of Sustainability (UDB POS) feature.
Pilot Objectives and Duration
The primary goals of the second pilot are to:
- Identify and resolve any bugs or critical technical issues within the UDB system.
- Review and address any information security concerns.
- Identify and eliminate any administrative barriers to seamless implementation.
- Test the readiness of the UDB’s Proof of Sustainability (UDB POS) system for upstream implementation by economic operators.
The pilot, which is set to run for one month, will provide crucial feedback to the European Commission’s UDB team. This will help identify necessary improvements and streamline the process for broader adoption across the biofuels industry, including for maritime transport.
Enhancing Confidence and Improving the UDB
EWABA’s Secretary General, Angel Alvarez Alberdi, expressed enthusiasm for the launch of the second UDB pilot, stating, “We are thrilled to launch the second UDB pilot with our members. We believe this exercise will boost individual companies’ confidence in the system and help us highlight technical shortcomings to the European Commission. Efficient roll-out of the UDB for the wider industry is vital to enhance traceability and transparency across the biofuels supply chain, including in maritime transport.”
Since 2021, Bioledger has been integrating compliance data into the UDB, preparing for the transition to a 100% digital Proof of Sustainability (UDB POS), a requirement under the EU REDIII. The UDB aims to act as a centralized global mass balance, where every UDB POS carries detailed lifecycle and sustainability data from the point of origin to consumption.
Patrick Lynch, CEO of Bioledger, emphasized the significance of the pilot, noting, “This second EWABA UDB pilot is crucial in demonstrating the UDB’s readiness. We will rigorously test the three available reporting pathways (UDB online, Bioledger Mass Balance app, and API integration) and evaluate improvements made since the first pilot, such as bulk uploads and new documentation on data security.”
The pilot will also assess the UDB’s ability to ensure traceability and the exclusion of any gaps in the EU RED supply chain, ultimately safeguarding the sustainability value of biofuels against unfair competition, including in maritime transport.
UDB and Its Role in the Biofuels Industry
The Union Database (UDB) was introduced through Directive (EU) 2018/2001 (REDII) to facilitate the tracing of liquid and gaseous transport fuels eligible to count toward RED targets. Starting January 2024, all Economic Operators (EOs) along the biofuels supply chain, will be required to register all transactions involving feedstocks, intermediate products, and fuels on the UDB.
This system will help ensure that biofuels meet the EU’s sustainability standards, providing a robust mechanism for verifying the environmental impact of biofuels from production to consumption.
About Bioledger
Bioledger is an independent software provider focused on simplifying compliance and improving traceability in the biofuels industry. As the only service provider enabling automated transactions into the Union Database, Bioledger supports 49 companies across 26 countries, representing over 2 million metric tons of biofuel production annually. Bioledger’s mass balance application and mobile app for first collectors are crucial tools for ensuring transparency and accountability in the biofuels supply chain.
About EWABA
EWABA is a Brussels-based association that represents the interests of the European waste-based and advanced biofuels industry. Its 60+ members are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in EU transport by promoting the inclusion of waste-based and advanced biofuels in the EU fuel mix. EWABA supports the near-term decarbonization of the EU road and maritime transport sectors, producing sustainable biodiesel with up to 90% GHG savings compared to fossil fuels.
Source EWABA Brussels