Biofuels target revised to 5% of road transport fuel by 2013-14
Wed 28 January 2009
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The Transport Minister, Lord Adonis, has announced that the target for biofuels use in road transport fuels will be 5% in 2013-14, following a consultation based on the recommendations of the Gallagher Report into the indirect effects of biofuels production. The Government has, however, slightly lifted the earlier 3% limit for 2009-10 to 3.25%.
Until the Gallagher report was published last year, the UK Government had set a target of 5% biofuels use in vehicles for 2010-11.
Subject to parliamentary approval, the yearly obligation level for fuel suppliers under the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) will now be:
3.25% for 2009/10;
3.5% for 2010/11;
4% for 2011/12;
4.5% for 2012/13;
5% for 2013/14
The Gallagher Review had recommended that the rate of increase of the RTFO be slowed to reach 5% in 2013-14 rather than in 2010-11, as originally intended, to take account of sustainability concerns.
Lord Adonis said: "The potential carbon savings from biofuels are too big to be ignored - however we must proceed carefully to ensure the renewable fuels we use are truly sustainable.
"Renewable fuels is an incredibly exciting and fast-moving area of science and we must adapt our policy to reflect new and emerging evidence. I believe an obligation of 3.25% for next year provides the balance we need between questions over the sustainability of biofuels and the predicted effect of the drafting discrepancy."
The Transport Minister also announced that two new eligible fuels - biobutanol and renewable diesel – will be added to the list of renewable fuels eligible under the RTFO.
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