Green light for green fuels

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling has announced new measures to make transport fuels greener by requiring 5% of all UK fuel sold on UK forecourts to come from a renewable source by 2010.

The move - known as a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) - was announced at the Environmentally Friendly Vehicles Conference in Birmingham on 10 November, where representatives from international Governments and industry met to discuss ways to promote greener vehicles.

Alistair Darling said: "Taking action to tackle climate change is essential. The Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation I am proposing today is predicted to save around 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 - the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road. Carbon savings could also increase in future years. This will help reduce the impact of transport on climate change, and bring environmental benefits for us all.

Drivers filling up at petrol stations will see very little difference, as biofuels do not change the performance of cars.

The Government has also published the results of a feasibility study, setting out how the obligation will work. It will require the major oil companies and importers to ensure that a growing proportion of their fuel sales are from a renewable source. By 2010, that proportion must be 5%, which will mean a 20 fold increase in biofuels sales over today's levels.

Today most biofuels come from crops like oilseed rape and wheat, which can be mixed with petrol and diesel and run in ordinary cars. In the future we could see more advanced biofuels made from waste and possibly even renewable hydrogen.

To ensure that biofuels are sourced sustainably, the Government proposes to develop a carbon and sustainability assurance scheme as part of the obligation. Obligated companies would be required to report on the level of carbon savings achieved and on the sustainability of their supplies.

The Renewable Power Association has welcomed Alistair Darling’s announcement.

Clare Wenner, RPA Head of Biofuels, said: "This is a big step forward in the UK’s efforts to combat climate change. It is disappointing that the Government has gone only as far as a 5% usage. Still, we are confident that this figure will increase over time so that motorists can do more to save carbon in the future.

"We will work with the Government in the months ahead and beyond to make sure that the RTFO will bring the biggest possible carbon savings and let a new biofuels industry flourish."

For further information, contact Clare Wenner on 07802 487679, email cwenner@r-p-a.org.uk.

The introduction of the RTFO will facilitate the establishment of a UK bioethanol industry which could also help to secure or create up to 10,000 jobs.

Peterborough-based British Sugar welcomes this announcement.

Mark Carr, British Sugar’s CEO, commented "We are delighted that the Government has decided to introduce the RTFO. The RTFO will offer significant support to the bioethanol industry which presents a real opportunity for the UK to make an impact on reducing road transport carbon emissions. We are very pleased that the Government has taken this step to enable the UK biofuels market to develop."

NFU regional director Pamela Forbes said: "We have been working hard to highlight the overwhelming case for biofuels with partners including Friends of the Earth and English Nature. I’m pleased the government has listened and given the green light to home-grown green fuels.

"In East Anglia we grow more than half a million hectares of wheat, more than half the country's sugar beet and 90,000 hectares of oilseed rape so our farms can make a substantial contribution to fuelling the country's future transport needs."