New provisional figures from the Department for Transport show that UK renewable fuel consumption remained broadly unchanged in 2025, while the number of Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) issued fell significantly compared with the previous year.
Total renewable fuel supplied reached 3.41 billion litres, matching 2024 levels. Bioethanol continued to be the largest single renewable fuel, rising to 1.582 billion litres and representing 46% of all renewable fuel delivered to the UK market.
Biodiesel supply eased to 719mn litres, and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) dropped to 574mn litres, reflecting lower blending rates into conventional diesel.
Renewable fuels accounted for 7% of all UK transport fuel supplied in 2025. Fossil fuels made up the remaining 93%, with diesel contributing 54%, petrol 34%, and low‑sulphur gasoil 5% of total fossil fuel use.
RTFC activity showed the sharpest movement. Issuance fell to 5.665bn certificates, down from 6.676bn in 2024.
Market participants attribute the decline to shifts in the relative value of biofuels and certificates, with suppliers favouring physical biofuel supply over ticket purchases. Increased imports of competitively priced US biofuels also played a role, following the government’s decision not to apply countervailing duties.
Double‑counting feedstocks remained the dominant source of certificates, generating 5.055bn RTFCs. Certificates issued for crop‑based fuels fell to 602 million, while “other RTFCs” declined to 4.8bn. Development fuel certificates — covering hydrogen and recycled carbon fuels — rose to 263mn, indicating growing activity in emerging fuel pathways.
UK renewable fuel use holds steady in 2025 as RTFC volumes decline
