Biofuels supplies falling short of RTFO targets but sustainability levels and UK content rise

Thu 07 February 2013 View all news

The amount of biofuel sold to the UK market fell to just 3% of total road fuel supplied in the period April to October 2012 according to the latest Government statistics. The fall was a result of a reduction in the supply of biodiesel to the UK market. Of the 631 million litres of renewable fuel supplied, 59% (371 million litres) was proven to be sustainable.

The proportion of renewable fuel supplied to the market in the latest 6-month report to October 2012 fell from 3.6% in the period April 2011-April 2012. The supply reduction is mainly the result of a sharp fall in the amount of biodiesel supplied to the market, which was only partially offset by an increase of around 11% in the volume of bioethanol. The latest fall means that UK consumption is currently running well behind the Government's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) target for biofuel supply of 4.5% in 2012/13.

The headline statistics in the latest report were:

  • 631 million litres of renewable fuel have been supplied, of which 371 million litres (59%) has so far been proven to be sustainable. (up from 57% in the previous reported period)  
  • 524 million Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) have been issued to this fuel of which 305 million were issued to double counting feedstocks.
  • Bioethanol comprised 61% of supply, biodiesel (FAME) 34% and biomethanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) 5%. There were also small volumes of biogas, and pure vegetable oil.
  • The most widely reported source (by feedstock and country of origin) for biodiesel was used cooking oil from the UK (37 million litres, 28% of biodiesel).
  • The most widely reported source (by feedstock and country of origin) for bioethanol was corn from the United States of America (138 million litres, 63% of bioethanol).
  • 17% of renewable fuel was sourced from UK feedstocks, (up from 12% in the previous year).
  • An aggregate greenhouse gas saving of 65% compared to fossil fuels was achieved (up from 63% in the previous year). This figure excludes emissions from indirect land-use change.

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) is one of the Government's main policies for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from road transport in the UK. The RTFO began in April 2008 and is intended to deliver reductions in carbon dioxide emissions from the road transport sector by encouraging the supply of renewable fuels.

The RTFO has been amended to implement the transport elements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED), which include mandatory sustainability criteria for biofuels, from 15 December 2011. The RTFO Administrator requires biofuel suppliers to submit data on both the carbon intensity and the sustainability of the biofuels they upply, in order to receive RTFCs.

The RTFO sustainability and carbon accreditation reporting mechanisms were set up following research and guidance provided to the Government by the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership.

 

 

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