World's first biofuel reporting system shows progress towards sustainable biofuels

15th July 2009

The Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) today (15 July 2009) released provisional data on the first year of biofuels supplied to UK forecourts under the RTFO. The UK has beaten its target that 2.5% of fuel should be biofuel, and the figures show many UK companies exceeding Government targets for biofuel sustainability.

CEO Nick Goodall commented: "These results have made tangible the evidence that sustainable biofuels are possible. However, some companies have failed to show a commitment to sourcing fuels that meet the required standard."

Overall, companies were well above the target for the amount of information reported this year, demonstrating that the RFA's world leading reporting system is working. Goodall commented: "In general, suppliers are starting to rise to the challenge of tracing the sustainability of their fuels."

Based on the RFA's 'lifecycle analysis' of biofuel emissions, the fuel supplied delivered a 47% reduction in greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels, exceeding the 40% target. These savings do not yet include the indirect emissions identified in the Gallagher review.

The most challenging target for companies was that 30% of biofuels should meet environmental sustainability standards. Although many companies have risen to the challenge, others have still not reported any demonstrably sustainable fuel. Overall, 24% of fuel reached the required level.

The market for sustainable biofuels is young, and the RTFO is helping to drive its development. In the UK, with well established sustainability programmes for agriculture, 99% of feedstock met the required standard. In many other countries schemes for assessing biofuel crop sustainability are not yet available. Aaron Berry, the RFA's Head of Carbon and Sustainability, explained:

"Progress by projects such as the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil and the Better Sugarcane Initiative show reason for optimism, as does the commitment of those companies that have undertaken their own sustainability audits."

The reporting system is a stepping stone to mandatory sustainability, and the sustainability targets are all raised in the coming year. They should be achievable if suppliers commit to sourcing sustainably.

The data is subject to verification, and the RFA will report the finalised figures in January.

Contact details:
Chris Malins, RFA Communications Specialist
chris.malins@rfa.gsi.gov.uk
Office: 020 7944 8454
Mobile: 07500 573 521

Background:

The RFA, a Government non-departmental public body (NDPB), is the UK's independent sustainable fuels regulator.
Smaller biofuel companies that supply little or no fossil fuel, such as those supplying recycled cooking oil, can also claim RTFO certificates. Nearly all of these companies met all three targets.
The European Union has published the Renewable Energy Directive, which sets mandatory renewable fuel targets for 2020 including mandatory sustainability standards. The UK will need to adapt to the new requirements when they come into force. The UK currently has the highest reporting standards in the world.

The full report is available on the resources page of this website.

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