Official Statistics

Renewable fuel statistics 2021: Final report

Updated 7 June 2023

About this release

This final release covers the supply of renewable fuel in 2021, based on data available on 10 October 2022, which has been reported under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).

The RTFO scheme reduces greenhouse gas emissions from transport fuels by setting annual obligations on fuel suppliers to supply sustainable renewable fuels.

Renewable fuels are often blended with conventional fuels such as petrol or diesel, but as they come from renewable feedstocks including waste products and residues, their overall greenhouse gas emissions are lower when we consider the entire life cycle of the fuel.

Impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19)

The timeline of this publication series includes periods of coronavirus (COVID-19) related restrictions. As such, figures in this release may be affected and should be interpreted with caution.

Changes to methodology

There has been a methodological change to the calculation of greenhouse gas savings and carbon intensity. These calculations now use a weighted average to more accurately reflect the effect of the overall fuel supply. As a consequence of this change in methodology, figures for greenhouse gas savings and carbon intensity for the period 2008 to 2021 have been revised. More detail, including the impact of these changes, can be found in an explanatory Changes to methodology section in this report.

In 2021:

• 2,562 million litres equivalent (eq.) of renewable fuel have been supplied, which constitutes 5% of total road and non-road mobile machinery fuel for the year in the UK.
• certificates have been issued to 2,558 million litres eq. (99.9% of all renewable fuel) under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (see Background Information).
• of these 2,558 million litres eq., an average greenhouse gas (GHG) saving of 83% was achieved when compared to fossil fuel use. This drops to 80% when indirect land-use change (ILUC) is accounted for.
• 10% of all verified renewable fuel supplied to the UK in this period was produced from UK origin feedstocks.

Notes on time series

2018 was a 9 month reporting period rather than the conventional 12 months. This is shown as 2018* in the publication, tables, and charts. From 2019 onwards, figures are reported on a 12 month calendar basis.

Figure 1: Average greenhouse gas savings of renewable fuel (excluding ILUC), financial year ending 2009 to 2021 (table RF 0114) (table RF_0105a)

GHG savings excluding ILUC has increased, from 47% in the financial year ending 2009, rapidly in the financial year ending 2010 to the financial year ending 2012, then generally increased at a relatively stable pace to 83% in 2021.

Verified renewable fuel

Verified renewable fuel refers to fuel that has received Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) for having met the Sustainability Criteria. For more information, see the notes and definitions.

As of the 2021 reports, the biodiesel category now includes biodiesel methyl ester (ME) and off-road biodiesel. These fuels were reported separately in previous years.

Overview

Figure 2: What is a renewable fuel?

Figure 3: Highlights - 2021

Below is a summary of the highlights from 2021 (Figure 3), as:

• renewable fuel made up 5.4% of total road and non-road mobile machinery in 2021
• this proportion is lower than the previous reporting period (5.9% in 2020)
• verified renewable fuels achieved an average greenhouse gas saving of 83%
• biodiesel made up 52% of verified renewable fuel
• bioethanol made up 32% of verified renewable fuel
• waste feedstocks made up 76% of verified renewable fuel
• 93% of biodiesel was produced from used cooking oil (UCO)
• 52% of bioethanol was produced from corn
• United Kingdom feedstocks made up 10% of verified renewable fuel

Long-term trends

Figure 4: Long term trends of renewable fuel

Figure 4 provides an indication of long term trends for renewable fuel. Renewable fuel as a proportion of all fuel remained around 3% from the financial year ending 2009, until the financial year ending 2018. In 2021, this proportion is 5.4%, slightly lower than the previous reporting period (5.9% in 2020).

The percentage of waste feedstocks for renewable fuel, as opposed to non-waste feedstocks, has steadily increased over time, from 12% at the start of the data series to 76% in 2021.

Greenhouse gas savings, excluding ILUC, have also increased over time. Initial increases, from 47% in the financial year ending 2009 to 68% in the financial year ending 2012, have slowed over time. Average greenhouse gas savings in 2021 were 83%, one percentage point higher than in 2020.

The proportion of biodiesel has decreased from 82% in the financial year ending 2009 to 52% in 2021, though tending to increase in recent years from a low of 37% in the financial year ending 2012. In the same period, bioethanol initially increased dramatically from 18% in the financial year ending 2009 to over 50% in the financial year ending 2013, and has since been decreasing as a proportion of supply. In 2021 bioethanol represented 32% of renewable fuel supply, higher than the previous reporting period (22% in 2020). Other types of renewable fuel have been gradually since the financial year ending 2013.

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) savings

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) savings

GHG savings represent the difference in GHG emissions between using renewable fuel as opposed to the conventional fuel they replace. The Motor Fuel GHG Emissions Reporting Regulations set obligations for fuel suppliers to reduce their average GHG intensity.

In 2021, an aggregated GHG saving of 83% was achieved when compared to fossil fuels. This amounts to a GHG saving of 5,068 kt CO2 equivalent emissions compared to conventional fuel. This is a reduction from 5,236 kt CO2e in 2020, which was in part due to low levels of trade and shipping during the COVID-19 pandemic, and hence low fossil fuel consumption in 2020. Accounting for indirect land-use change (ILUC), the 2021 GHG saving was 80%.

Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC)

Relates to the unintended consequences of changing land use for renewable fuel production. For example, the expansion of crop land for feedstocks driving deforestation elsewhere. This reduces the GHG savings from the renewable fuel produced.

Figure 5: Greenhouse gas saving delivered by renewable fuel supplied to the UK, financial year ending 2009 to 2021 (table RF 0114)

Under the GHG Reporting Regulations since 2020, there is no longer a GHG emissions reduction target that fuel suppliers are obligated to meet. Suppliers are still required to supply carbon and sustainability data for the renewable fuel they supply to the UK, and this information can be seen in table RF_0110.

Fuel type

Figure 6: Volume of verified renewable fuel by fuel type (table RF 0105a)

The overall volume of verified renewable fuel supplied to the UK in 2021 (2,558 million litres eq.) was 1% higher than the volume in 2020 (2,536 million litres eq.). 2021 also saw an 11% increase in fossil fuel supplied, compared to 2020. This increase in fossil fuel supply likely reflects the re-opening of the economy after the 2020 national lockdown as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of the 2,558 million litres eq. of renewable fuel:

• biodiesel made up 52%,
• bioethanol made up 32%,
• biomethane made up 4%,
• biopropane made up 3%,
• biomethanol made up 2%.

There were also small volumes of biopetrol and diesel of biological origin.

Figure 7: Supply of selected renewable fuels to the UK by fuel type, financial to 2021 (table RF 0105b)

Renewable fuel trends

Volumes of bioethanol have increased by 255 million litres eq. from 2020. Volumes of biodiesel (comprising biodiesel ME and off-road biodiesel) have decreased by 194 million litres eq. since 2020. The supply of biomethanol increased slightly from 2020.

Throughout the data series, supply of biodiesel has been volatile, falling from 1,058 million litres eq. in the financial year ending 2009 to a low of 488 million litres eq. in the financial year ending 2013, and increasing to a high of 1,677 million litres eq. in 2019. In 2021, biodiesel supply stands at 1,329 million litres eq., a fall from the previous reporting period (1,613 million litres eq. in 2020).

By contrast, volumes of bioethanol have gradually increased since the financial year ending 2009, from 225 million litres eq. to 807 million litres eq. in 2021. Volumes of biomethane have been increasing since the financial year ending 2018, surpassing biomethanol in 2020.

Feedstock

Feedstocks

Any sustainable and renewable resource (biomass or renewable energy source) that can be converted into, or used directly, as a transport fuel or other energy product.

Figure 8: Supply of verified renewable fuel to the UK by feedstock and fuel type (table RF_0105a)

The majority (55%) of all verified renewable fuel was produced from used cooking oil (UCO), which is used in several different types of renewable fuel. UCO comprised 93% of biodiesel. For bioethanol, the most common feedstock was corn (52%). Corn-based bioethanol comprised 16% of total verified renewable fuel.

Figure 9: Supply of verified renewable fuel to the UK by feedstock, financial year ending 2009 to 2021 (table RF_0105a)

UK feedstock

Figure 10: UK origin verified renewable fuel by feedstock (table RF_0105a)

Of the 250 million litres eq. of verified renewable fuel produced from UK origin feedstock, the most common by feedstock and fuel type combination was biodiesel from UCO (67.9 million litres, 27% of renewable fuel from UK origin feedstock). The most common source of bioethanol from UK origin feedstock was wheat (56.8 million litres, 23% of renewable fuel from UK origin feedstock).

Renewable fuels from UK feedstocks made up 10% of total renewable fuels in 2021. 77% of UK origin renewable fuel was produced from a waste feedstock, up from 64% in 2020.

Figure 11: UK origin verified renewable fuel by feedstock, financial year ending 2009 to 2021 (table RF_0105a)

Waste feedstock and origin

Waste feedstocks

Renewable fuel produced from waste feedstocks typically delivers greater greenhouse gas savings than fuel derived from feedstocks produced specifically to be made into renewable fuel. Therefore these are encouraged under the RTFO and are typically awarded double certificates. For simplicity, both wastes and residues are included as waste feedstocks in this report and include used cooking oil, municipal organic waste, waste agricultural products such as corn husks, and sewage sludge.

Figure 12: Proportion of waste and non-waste feedstock amongst verified renewable fuel (table RF_0105a)

Waste feedstocks are further incentivised under the RTFO, with the awarding of double-counting certificates for renewable fuel derived from them. Renewable fuel from waste feedstocks totalled 1,944 million litres eq. in 2021. Waste feedstocks made up 76% of all verified renewable fuel in 2021. Waste feedstocks made up 30% of bioethanol production, 238 million litres equivalent. This is an increase from 26% in 2020 (149 million litres equivalent).

Figure 13: Renewable Fuels from waste and non-waste feedstock, financial year ending 2009 to 2021 (table RF_0105a)

Waste-derived fuels have been increasing over time. At 76%, the proportion of fuel from waste feedstocks remained the same as in the previous reporting period (2020), but increased absolutely from 1,912 to 1,944 million litres eq. Non-waste feedstocks have declined both absolutely and relative to waste feedstocks, and since the financial year ending 2015 have made up the minority of overall renewable fuel supply to the UK.

Country of origin

Figure 14: : Top 5 countries of origin for feedstocks which were used in UK renewable fuels in 2021 (table RF_0105a)

10% of verified renewable fuel supplied to the UK this year was derived from UK feedstocks. The top 5 feedstock origin countries together account for 59% of renewable fuel.

Of the 2,558 million litres eq. of verified renewable fuel supplied in 2021, the most widely reported source for biodiesel supplied for use in the UK (by feedstock and country of origin) was UCO from China (600 million litres, 23% of renewable fuel supplied, 45% of total biodiesel supplied).

The most widely reported source for bioethanol supplied to the UK in 2021 (by feedstock and country of origin) was corn from Ukraine (174 million litres, 7% of renewable fuel supplied, 22% of total bioethanol supplied).

Figure 15: Proportion of renewable fuel supplied to the UK by region, financial year ending 2009 to 2021 (table RF_0105b)

The proportion of verified renewable fuel from Asia remained the same from 2020 at 39%. The proportion of verified renewable fuel from the UK decreased from 12% in 2020 to 10% in 2021, and verified renewable fuel from the Americas remained the same as 2020, at 17%.

Figure 16: Average greenhouse gas saving by country supplying fuel, 2021 (table RF_0105a)

Figure 17: Country of origin of all biodiesel feedstocks, 2021 (table RF_0105a)

Figure 18: Country of origin of all bioethanol feedstocks, 2021 (table RF_0105a)

Supplier information

The market for renewable fuel was diverse in 2021, with 44 different suppliers supplying renewable fuel to the UK market in this reporting period. This is an increase on the 36 companies that supplied renewable fuel to the UK in the previous reporting period.

Figure 19: Average GHG savings of top 10 suppliers for 2021, by alphabetical order (table RF_0110)

The top 10 suppliers of renewable fuel supplied 64% of the UK’s supply of renewable fuel in this period. All obligated suppliers met the main obligation, with one supplier achieving this through buying out in some proportion.

Figure 20: Feedstock mix of top 10 suppliers for 2021 (table RF_0110)

Development fuel

Development fuel

Specific fuels made from sustainable wastes or residues (excluding segregated oils and fats such as used cooking oils and tallow) or renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs). These fuels are awarded 2 development fuel certificates per litre eq. of eligible fuel supplied.

A specific target for ‘development fuels’ was introduced from 1 January 2019. This target takes into account the fuel types and the feedstock. These fuels include aviation fuel, drop-in fuels, substitute natural gas and hydrogen (see notes and definitions).

In 2021, the RTFO Administrator has verified 14.2 million litres eq. of development diesel and 9.7 million litres eq. of development petrol, which are renewable fuels and also qualified as development fuels. Together, this fuel was awarded 47.93 million development fuel RTFCs, which is a large jump from the 380,941 development fuel RTFCs awarded in 2020. This is likely to reflect the technology becoming more mature in 2021, as well as increasing targets. After the introduction of development fuels in 2019, in 2021, 410 litres eq. of hydrogen were verified. All obligated suppliers met their target, however 83% was met through buying out. All obligated suppliers met their development fuel target, however all but 2 suppliers achieved this through buying out at least some amount of their obligation.

54% of development diesel came from organic municipal solid waste from the United States. 67% of development petrol came from organic municipal solid waste, also from the United States, whilst 20% came from food waste and the remaining 13% came from end of life tyres, both from Poland.

Certificates Awarded Under the RTFO

Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs)

RTFCs are awarded to transport fuel suppliers whose renewable fuel meets the sustainability criteria. In 2021, 4,502 million RTFCs have been issued to 2,558 million litres eq. of verified renewable fuel. This is out of a total of 2,562 million litres eq. supplied in 2021.

Double Counting Feedstock

Double Counting

Fuel produced from certain wastes or residues, fuel from dedicated energy crops, and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) are incentivised by awarding double the RTFCs per litre or kilogram supplied. This means that each litre eq. of eligible fuel supplied counts double towards meeting suppliers’ obligations.

Of the 4,502 million RTFCs awarded to renewable fuel that met the sustainability criteria, 3,888 million were issued to fuel from a ‘Double Counting’ feedstock. A further 4 million litres eq. of renewable fuel went unverified (0.1% of total renewable fuel) and did not receive RTFCs in this period.

Figure 21: Renewable fuel to which RTFCs have been issued (table RF_0102)

What is a voluntary scheme?

Voluntary schemes can be used to verify that renewable fuel supplied to the UK complies with the sustainability criteria of the RTFO, which is a prerequisite for RTFCs to be issued.

Schemes for certification and traceability

Almost all (99%) of renewable fuel feedstocks that have met the sustainability criteria have been certified by a voluntary scheme

Of the current voluntary schemes listed, the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification scheme (ISCC) certified 94% of all UK renewable fuel in 2021.

The uptake of voluntary schemes has remained above 98% for the past 8 years, compared to 20% in the first year of the RTFO.

Figure 22: Proportion of renewable fuel reported via voluntary scheme 2021 (table RF_0106)

Background Information

Sources of data in this report

Data on volumes of fuel, Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) (issues, redemptions, surrenders, transfers) and Carbon and Sustainability (C&S) are held by the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) Administrator on the RTFO Operating System (ROS). Fuel volume data is submitted on a monthly basis by fuel suppliers to the RTFO Administrator and validated against HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) duty payment data.

C&S data is only reported once RTFCs have been issued. There will therefore be a difference between the volume of renewable fuel supplied and the number of RTFCs issued or C&S data available. The final report for an obligation period will show the final position.

Related Information

Previously published reports can be found on the DfT website.

The publication timetable can be found at Annex B.

Changes to methodology

There has been a methodological change to the calculation of greenhouse gas savings and carbon intensity in 2021. The previous methodology used a simple average across fuel types to estimate the average carbon intensity, and therefore the greenhouse gas saving. The new methodology weights this average by fuel quantity, improving the accuracy of the estimate. As a consequence of this change, previous estimates of greenhouse gas savings for the 2008 to 2021 period have been revised, with the percentage change between the 2 methodologies highlighted in Table 1.

Table 1: Percentage change in estimates of average GHG savings and carbon intensity using new methodology

Reporting period	Difference excluding ILUC	Difference including ILUC
2012/13	0.07%	-1.44%
2013/14	-0.15%	-1.19%
2014/15	2.46%	-0.98%
2015/16	-0.13%	-0.75%
2016/17	3.27%	-0.05%
2017/18	-0.04%	-0.59%
2018 (April to December)	-0.02%	0.09%
2018	-0.01%	0.09%
2019	-0.15%	-0.03%
2020	-0.14%	-0.06%

Renewable fuel mix reporting

The data reported by fuel suppliers under the RTFO is in line with mass balance rules. A mass balance system requires suppliers throughout the supply chain to account for their product on a units in - units out basis, but does not require physical separation of certified feedstock or fuel from uncertified material. It ensures that for every unit of sustainable renewable fuel sold, the corresponding amount of sustainable feedstock has been produced. This can mean the actual feedstock mix might differ from that reported. Nonetheless, the feedstocks and renewable fuels reported in this document represent those that are incentivised and rewarded under the RTFO.

Obligations Under the RTFO

Verified renewable fuel

Verified renewable fuel refers to fuel that has received RTFCs for having met the Sustainability Criteria. For more, see the notes and definitions.

Sustainability Criteria

To receive Renewable Fuel Certificates, fuels supplied must meet the sustainability criteria set out in the amended Renewable Transport Fuel Obligations Order 2007 and the RTFO Compliance Guidance. Renewable fuel must deliver minimum GHG savings and must not originate from land with high biodiversity value or carbon stock, unless stringent criteria are met.

Suppliers of fuel for road and non-road mobile machinery (for example, tractors) that supply 450,000 litres equivalent or more per year have an obligation under the RTFO Order. Obligated suppliers may meet their obligation by redeeming Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs) or by paying a fixed sum for each litre of fuel for which they wish to ‘buy-out’ of their obligation. RTFCs are gained by supplying sustainable renewable fuels. In 2021, such suppliers must redeem RTFCs and development fuel RTFCs (dRFTCs) equivalent to 10.7% and 0.6%, respectively, of the volume of fossil and unsustainable renewable fuel supplied.

One certificate may be claimed for every litre or equivalent (notes and definitions) of sustainable renewable fuel supplied. Fuel produced from certain wastes or residues, fuel from dedicated energy crops, and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs) are incentivised by awarding double the RTFCs per litre or kilogram supplied.

Strengths and weaknesses of the data

C&S data is verified by independent verifiers and checked against the RTFO Guidance by the Administrator.

The Administrator validates volume data submitted by fuel suppliers against that held by the HMRC regarding fuel duty liabilities. Whilst the Administrator validates volume data against HMRC data at a company level, there is not an exact match between the volume of fuel reported in this report and the volume of fuel reported in HMRCs Hydrocarbon Oils bulletin. For further information see the notes and definitions.

Further details

Further information on the data can be found in the notes and definitions.

Official Statistics

Official Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. However, these statistics have not been assessed by the Office for Statistics Regulation. Details of ministers and officials who received pre-release access to these statistics up to 24 hours before release can be found in the pre-release access list.

Annex A: Renewable fuel statistics: Content of tables

Reports are published quarterly.

This is the sixth and final report of 2021, of 6 in total. The final report for 2022 is scheduled for release in November 2023, and will report on the carbon and sustainability performance of individual suppliers. All reports are available on the department’s renewable fuel statistics webpage.

Table 2: Typical content of renewable fuel statistics tables

Table	Previously reported as	Description	Provisional Report	Final Report
RF_0101	RTFO_01	Volume of fuel supplied	Yes	Yes
RF_0102	RTFO_02	Fuels issued with RTFCs and number of RTFCs issued	Yes	Yes
RF_0103	RTFO_03	RTFC balance by obligation period	Yes	Yes
RF_0104	RTFO_04	RTFC trades to date by company type	Yes	Yes
RF_0105a	RTFO_05	RTFO wide carbon and sustainability data	Yes	Yes
RF_0105b	-	Feedstock and country of origin over time	No	Yes
RF_0106	RTFO_06	RTFO wide voluntary scheme data	Yes	Yes
RF_0107	RTFO_07	Performance against obligation by supplier	No	Yes
RF_0108a	RTFO_08a	Feedstock by supplier as a % of their supply	No	Yes
RF_0108b	RTFO_08b	Country of origin by supplier as a % of their supply	No	Yes
RF_0109	RTFO_09	% of renewable fuel that was sustainable by supplier	No	Yes
RF_0110	RTFO_10	Carbon and sustainability data by supplier	No	Yes
RF_0111	RTFO_11	RTFO wide fuel supply by volume and energy	No	Yes
RF_0112	RTFO_12	Civil penalties and other non-compliance	No	Yes
RF_0114	-	Total greenhouse gas savings over time	No	Yes

Annex B: Renewable Fuel Statistics Reporting Timescales

Table 3: Publication dates and contents of each report

We are considering in future producing and publishing tables on a monthly basis in lieu of quarterly reports, with a final written report each year in November. If we proceed with this, we will complete the 2022 quarterly series, with the final report for 2022 due in November 2023 and monthly tables in place before this point. At present, this is an initial idea but we would welcome any feedback on this and usage of the reports produced to help inform our plans. Please contact us via the details provided in the contact us section.

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Contact details

Renewable fuel statistics

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