Guidance

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) guidance: 2021

Information on complying, reporting and verifying with the RTFO process for fuel suppliers, independent verifiers and those supplying road transport biofuels.

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Documents

RTFO guidance part 1: process guidance year 2021

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RTFO guidance part 1: process guidance year 2021

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RTFO guidance part 2: carbon and sustainability guidance year 2021

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RTFO guidance part 2: carbon and sustainability guidance year 2021

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RTFO guidance part 3: guidance for verifiers year 2021

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RTFO guidance part 3: guidance for verifiers year 2021

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RTFO updated guidance: biomethane, including as a chemical precursor (transitioning to year 2022)

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UK land use evidence sources 2021

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UK land use evidence sources 2021

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Process guidance renewable fuels list for 2021

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Process guidance renewable fuels list for 2021

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Table of voluntary schemes for RTFO 2021

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Carbon intensity templates and data year 2021

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Codes of use when uploading CSV data files to the RTFO operating system and carbon calculator 2021

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Details

This Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) guidance is for fuel suppliers, independent verifiers and others involved in the supply of biofuels in the UK (but not those reporting under the Motor Fuel Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reporting Regulations, for which separate guidance has been issued).

The RTFO guidance for 2022 onwards is available, this guidance however can be used until September 2022.

The RTFO guidance is in 3 main parts.

Part 1: Process guidance

Part 1 provides information on how fossil fuel and renewable transport fuel suppliers should comply with the RTFO Order and practical instructions on how to submit required information. It provides information about:

  • the obligations that the RTFO Order puts on certain fuel suppliers
  • applying for and maintaining an account with the RTFO administrator
  • applying for Renewable Transport Fuels Certificates (RTFCs)
  • penalties for non-compliance

Part 2: Carbon and sustainability guidance

Part 2 provides assistance on carbon and sustainability reporting for fossil and renewable transport fuel suppliers applying for RTFCs. It provides information about:

  • reporting data
  • demonstrating compliance with greenhouse gas and land use
  • mass balance rules
  • wastes and residues
  • regional emissions from biofuels cultivation

The biofuels carbon calculator allows fuel suppliers to calculate the carbon saved on a batch of fuels.

Part 3: Guidance for verifiers

Carbon and sustainability data must be independently verified before RTFCs are awarded. Part 3 provides information about:

  • the purpose and requirements of verification
  • planning and risk assessment
  • developing an assurance strategy
  • reporting and assurance statements

This guidance replaces the 2020 RTFO guidance and is the preferred method of use, although the 2020 guidance can still be used, if required, until September 2021.

Updated guidance concerning biomethane, including as a chemical precursor

This guidance is transitional until 1 January 2022. Between 1 July 2021 and 1 January 2022, claimants may submit claims in accordance with the updated guidance (PDF, 345KB) or Part 1: process guidance (PDF, 1.4MB) and Part 2: carbon and sustainability guidance (PDF, 1.2MB).

Published 4 January 2021
Last updated 1 December 2021 + show all updates
  1. RTFO codes listing updated to include new feedstocks, contaminated cheese washings, cobs, draff, pot ale and pot ale syrup.

  2. Updates to feedstock listing: slaughter products moved from table 1 to table 2, additions of cobs from processing and residues from cottage cheese and quark, bracken renamed as cuttings from invasive vegetation, and sewage system FOG removed.

  3. Added updated guidance concerning biomethane, including as a chemical precursor. This guidance is transitional until 1 January 2022. Between 1 July 2021 and 1 January 2022, claimants may submit claims in accordance with the updated guidance or the old guidance.

  4. In April, the following fuel types and associated codes were updated: Biobutane, Biobutanol, Biodiesel HVO, Biomethane (compressed), Biomethane (liquified), CHVO (fossil portion), CHVO (renewable portion), Development diesel, Development jet fuel, Development petrol, Diesel (fossil), ETBE (fossil portion), ETBE (renewable portion), HVO (non-renewable portion), HVO (renewable portion), Hydrogen, Marked Gas Oil, Methanol (aqua, renewable), Methanol (bio), Methanol (non bio, renewable), MTBE (fossil portion), MTBE (renewable portion), Petrol (ethanol denaturant), Petrol (fossil), Petrol (light oil other than unleaded), TAEE (fossil portion) and TAEE (renewable portion). New feedstock added: Organic Municipal Solid Waste and new country codes added: CIV and MNE.

  5. Addition of bracken to table 3 of the list of feedstocks 2021, and of guidance outlining that if you are applying for RTFCs for fuel from a feedstock and intend using a voluntary scheme as evidence of compliance, you must undertake the necessary audit(s).

  6. Updated the list of feedstocks, including wastes and residues.

  7. First published.