UK biofuels sector stalling says RFA
The UK’s Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) has released figures showing major fuel suppliers are continuing to fail government targets to supply biofuels that meet environmental standards.
Nine companies are performing below their targets, including BP, which managed to report just 4% of its biofuels as meeting standards recognised by the Agency.
Esso, Chevron, Murco, Prax and Topaz have failed to report any biofuels being supplied within UK transport fuel as meeting any environmental standards.
According to the figures, 670 million litres of biofuel was supplied to the UK transport market in the first six months of the legal requirements coming into force.
From April to October 2008, just 20% of that biofuel met a recognised environmental standard.
The government has set a voluntary target for 30% of biofuels to meet environmental standards this year, rising to 50% next year and 80% in 2010/11.
The figures are more positive for biofuels made in the UK, 98% of which met an environmental standard. However, 8% of biofuels supplied to UK forecourts came from British production plants according to the figures.
‘We believe that biofuels should be sustainable,’ Nick Goodall, CEO of the Agency, says. ‘The first half year's experience of the Renewable Fuels Transport Obligation (RTFO) in the UK and the good performance of several companies are demonstrating that the biofuels industry can meet sustainability standards. The challenge for us now is to raise performance across the board.’
The RTFO in figures:
• 20% met an environmental standard (target 30%)
• 47% greenhouse gas savings achieved (target 40%)
• 84% biodiesel; 16% ethanol
• 92% imported; 8% from the UK
• 98% of UK biofuels meet standards
• 670 million litres of biofuels supplied
*First half 2008/9 figures
Nine companies are performing below their targets, including BP, which managed to report just 4% of its biofuels as meeting standards recognised by the Agency.
Esso, Chevron, Murco, Prax and Topaz have failed to report any biofuels being supplied within UK transport fuel as meeting any environmental standards.
According to the figures, 670 million litres of biofuel was supplied to the UK transport market in the first six months of the legal requirements coming into force.
From April to October 2008, just 20% of that biofuel met a recognised environmental standard.
The government has set a voluntary target for 30% of biofuels to meet environmental standards this year, rising to 50% next year and 80% in 2010/11.
The figures are more positive for biofuels made in the UK, 98% of which met an environmental standard. However, 8% of biofuels supplied to UK forecourts came from British production plants according to the figures.
‘We believe that biofuels should be sustainable,’ Nick Goodall, CEO of the Agency, says. ‘The first half year's experience of the Renewable Fuels Transport Obligation (RTFO) in the UK and the good performance of several companies are demonstrating that the biofuels industry can meet sustainability standards. The challenge for us now is to raise performance across the board.’
The RTFO in figures:
• 20% met an environmental standard (target 30%)
• 47% greenhouse gas savings achieved (target 40%)
• 84% biodiesel; 16% ethanol
• 92% imported; 8% from the UK
• 98% of UK biofuels meet standards
• 670 million litres of biofuels supplied
*First half 2008/9 figures
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