Renewable fuel adoption advances through industrial HVO use and hydrogen mandates

Energy companies are advancing renewable fuel adoption through industrial agreements and regulatory compliance. In Spain, the mining project Iberian Belt West (IBW) has reached a pioneering agreement to use 100% renewable diesel (HVO) for its heavy machinery and transport. This biofuel, produced by Moeve at its Palos de la Frontera facilities, is a direct substitute for conventional diesel that requires no engine modifications. The initiative is expected to prevent approximately 2,600 tons of annual CO2 emissions.

Separately, Plug Power has issued a warning regarding the transition to renewable hydrogen. CEO José Luis Crespo stated that companies delaying hydrogen procurement until 2030 risk losing competitiveness. This urgency is driven by European regulations, such as Royal Decree 611/2026, which establishes binding obligations for renewable fuels in transport starting in 2027. Specifically, non-biological renewable fuels (RFNBO) must account for 2.5% of road transport energy by 2030. Because large-scale electrolyzer projects require years for financing and construction, Plug Power argues that investment decisions must be made by 2026 or 2027 to meet these mandates.