Argus Media (05/08/2021) - Renewables made up 5pc of the UK's transport fuel mix in January-May this year, according to preliminary government data. This compares with 6pc in the whole of 2020.

Of the 813mn litres equivalent of renewable fuels supplied in the UK between January and May, 186mn l — or around 23pc — has so far met sustainability standards under the country's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme. The fuels achieved an average 84pc greenhouse gas (GHG) savings compared with fossil fuel use, although this falls to 82pc when accounting for indirect land usage.

Biodiesel accounted for 57pc of the verified 186mn l, while bioethanol accounted for 34pc. The government data show that 100pc of the biodiesel was produced from waste feedstocks, and 96pc was from used cooking oil (UCO). UCO is double counted in the UK to incentivise the use of waste feedstocks. Some 80pc of the bioethanol produced was made from corn. Around 7pc of the renewable fuels supplied in January-May, or just under 57mn l, was made from UK origin feedstocks.

The RTFO unit has yet to verify any development fuels so far this year. Development fuels are defined as fuels made from sustainable wastes or residues, excluding oils and fats such as UCO and tallow, or renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO). The government only verified a small number of development fuels in the whole of 2020, which included 613 litres equivalent of hydrogen and 197,000 litres equivalent of development petrol so far. The final report for 2020 is scheduled for release in November 2021.

The UK set a 0.15pc target for the share of development fuels blended in the domestic road transport fuel pool last year, up from 0.1pc in 2019. The target is 0.5pc this year and will increase gradually, to 2.8pc in 2032.

The UK awards renewable transport fuel certificates (RTFCs) to suppliers for every litre or kilogramme of renewable fuels that meet the sustainability criteria. Between January and May of this year, 316mn RTFCs were issued, of which 259mn were for fuels from double counted feedstock.

The UK's final report for 2021 is scheduled for release in November 2022.