By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Nov. 11 -- UK Transport Sec. Alistair Darling said that 5% of all motor fuel sold in the UK will have to come from renewable sources by 2010, a twentyfold increase in biofuel sales compared with current levels.
Darling announced the change on Nov. 10 during an environmentally friendly vehicles conference in Birmingham, UK, where representatives from international governments and industry met to discuss ways to promote greener vehicles.
The requirement comes through the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO). The measure is expected to save about 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2010. Darling said that is the equivalent of removing 1 million vehicles from the roads.
"Carbon savings could also increase in future years. This will help reduce the impact of transport on climate change," Darling said. "I am determined that transport should play its part in addressing the threat of climate change."
The government also published a feasibility study outlining how the obligation will be implemented and administered.
Oil companies and importers are being called upon to ensure that a growing proportion of their fuel sales are from a renewable source, Darling said. No immediate response was available from BP PLC, Royal Dutch Shell Group, or Total UK regarding how the RTFO would impact their fuel production.
Sustainability
The UK government proposes to develop a carbon and sustainability assurance scheme. Obligated companies would be required to report on the level of carbon savings achieved and on the sustainability of their renewable sources.
Under the RTFO, oil companies will receive certificates to demonstrate how much biofuel each company has sold. If a company sells more than its 5% obligation, it could sell those certificates to other companies that still need to meet their obligation.
Most biofuels currently come from crops, which can be mixed with gasoline and diesel.
"In the future we could see more advanced biofuels made from waste and possibly even renewable hydrogen," Darling said. "As a next step, we need to have a hard look here in the UK at the practical steps we would need to take to build a hydrogen infrastructure."
