Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) is a legal classification under the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED II and RED III) that refers to liquid and gaseous fuels produced from renewable electricity and not derived from biomass or any other biological feedstock. RFNBOs include synthetic fuels such as e-hydrogen, e-methanol, e-kerosene, and e-methane, all of which play a crucial role in the decarbonization of transport and industry, especially in hard-to-electrify sectors.
The RFNBO label ensures that a fuel is not only renewable but also produced under strict sustainability and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions criteria, enabling it to qualify for EU renewable energy targets and regulatory incentives.
Definition and legal context
According to the EU Renewable Energy Directive, an RFNBO must meet the following conditions:
- It is produced from renewable electricity, such as wind, solar, hydro, or geothermal.
- It is not of biological origin, meaning it does not rely on crops, waste, or biomass.
- It qualifies under EU guidelines for additionality, temporal correlation, and geographical correlation, as set out in the RED Delegated Acts adopted in 2023.
- It delivers GHG emission savings of at least 70% compared to fossil fuels on a full life cycle (Well-to-Wake) basis.
RFNBOs are often contrasted with biofuels, Recycled Carbon Fuels (RCFs), and fossil-based fuels, and are recognized as key to achieving EU climate neutrality by 2050.
Examples of RFNBOs
The most common RFNBOs include:
- Renewable hydrogen produced via electrolysis of water using renewable electricity.
- e-Methanol, synthesized from green hydrogen and captured CO₂.
- e-Kerosene (electro-kerosene or synthetic jet fuel), used as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
- e-Methane or synthetic methane, suitable for injection into gas grids or maritime fuel applications.
These fuels are chemically similar to their fossil counterparts and can often be used in existing engines and infrastructure (drop-in compatibility), making them attractive for near-term deployment.
Applications of RFNBOs
RFNBOs are especially relevant in sectors that are difficult to electrify directly:
- Maritime transport: e-Methanol and e-Ammonia are being tested as low-emission shipping fuels.
- Aviation: e-Kerosene is one of the only viable long-term alternatives to fossil-based jet fuel.
- Heavy industry: Renewable hydrogen and its derivatives are used in steel, cement, and chemicals as clean feedstocks.
- Power and heat: RFNBOs can serve as storage media for excess renewable electricity and be converted back to power when needed.
Sustainability and certification
To qualify as an RFNBO under RED, the fuel must:
- Be produced using additional renewable electricity capacity, not diverting existing clean power from the grid (additionality).
- Be generated within the same timeframe as the renewable electricity used (temporal correlation).
- Be produced within the same geographical zone as the electricity source (geographical correlation).
These requirements are designed to ensure that RFNBOs provide real emissions savings and do not undermine the overall decarbonization of the energy system.
Certification schemes—such as ISCC EU, CertifHy, and others—verify that fuels meet RED-compliant sustainability and GHG intensity thresholds.
Benefits of RFNBOs
- Climate neutrality: Enable nearly zero-carbon energy carriers when produced and used sustainably.
- Energy system integration: Link electricity with transport, heating, and industrial sectors (sector coupling).
- Infrastructure compatibility: Most RFNBOs are drop-in fuels for existing engines, pipelines, and distribution systems.
- Long-term energy storage: Act as chemical batteries that store intermittent renewable electricity.
- Trade potential: Facilitate cross-border energy trade in synthetic molecules rather than electrons.
