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If you drive a petrol or diesel car in Spain, the fuel going into your tank is going to change gradually over the coming years. Not because you will have to do anything differently, but because the government has now set legally binding targets for fuel suppliers to progressively blend renewable gases into conventional fossil fuels between now and 2040.

 

The decree, approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, sets out the roadmap in clear terms. By 2030, 8% of the fuel used in road transport must come from biofuels, advanced biogas or non-carbonated biofuels. By 2040, that figure rises to 22%. These are obligations on fuel suppliers and wholesale operators, not on individual drivers or vehicle owners. The Ministry for Ecological Transition was explicit on this point: "Targets are not set on end users, but on fuel suppliers."

 

The broader greenhouse gas reduction targets that sit behind these figures are also significant. Road transport must cut emissions by 17.6% by 2030 and 30% by 2040. For maritime transport, the reduction targets are 9% by 2030 and 33% by 2040 for ships operating between Spanish ports. Aviation must incorporate at least 6% renewable fuel into its kerosene by 2030, rising to 34% by 2040. Non-electrified rail must cut emissions by 10% by 2030 and 50% by 2040.

 

The decree also introduces a system of e-credits for electric vehicles, designed to account for the renewable energy consumed by EVs and potentially provide additional income for charging point operators, with the stated aim of promoting the electrification of transport more broadly.

 

In a separate but related decision at the same Cabinet meeting, the government announced that €600 million will again be made available this year to help large industrial sectors offset the cost of CO2 emissions payments under EU rules. The measure is aimed at sectors considered at risk of carbon leakage, those competing against industries outside the EU that face no such costs, to ensure they are not placed at a competitive disadvantage.

 

Industry Minister Jordi Hereu confirmed that the 2026 call for applications is now open, with traditional sectors such as paper, metallurgy, glass and chemicals eligible to apply, alongside new additions including organic chemicals, fertilizers and ceramics. In exchange for the support, companies are obliged to carry out an energy audit and invest in measures to improve efficiency, reduce direct emissions or increase their use of renewable electricity.

 

The Ministry says the 2040 targets are designed to give businesses and investors the long-term certainty they need to plan and commit to the transition ahead.