Renewable fuel statistics 2021: Third provisional report
Published 3 February 2022
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About this release
This quarterly release covers the supply of renewable fuel for transport in the UK for the 2021 calendar year, based on data available on 7 January 2022 which has been reported under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The data for a given year is not finalised until September the following year: Suppliers of fuel in 2021 can submit applications up to the 14 May 2022 and as such this is a provisional report. The final report for 2021 is scheduled for release in November 2022.
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 produced from biomass or some other renewable energy source. They are often blended with conventional fuels such as petrol or diesel, but they produce lower greenhouse gas emissions as their energy input is renewable.
Headline figures
2,204 million litres equivalent (eq.) of renewable fuel has 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 1,321 million litres eq. (60%) so far under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (see Background Information).
Of this 1,321 million litres eq., an average greenhouse gas (GHG) saving of 84% was achieved when compared to fossil fuel use. This drops to 82% when indirect land-use change (ILUC) is accounted for.
9% of all verified renewable fuel supplied to the UK in this period was produced from UK origin feedstocks.
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.
Figure 1: Volume of renewable fuel to which certificates have been issued, by fuel type (table RF_0105a)
Of the 1,321 million litres eq. of renewable fuel verified so far in 2021, biodiesel comprised 53% of supply, and bioethanol 32%. There were also small amounts of biomethane (5%) and other renewable fuels (such as biopetrol and biopropane) totalling 9%.
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.
Figure 2: What is a renewable fuel?
Some renewable fuels have a significantly different production process, in particular Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs). For more information see the notes and definitions.
Figure 3: Highlights - 2021
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.
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.
Renewable fuels in the UK fuel supply achieved an aggregated greenhouse gas (GHG) saving of 84% compared to fossil fuels. Accounting for emissions from indirect land-use change (ILUC) reduces this GHG saving to 82%.
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).
The RTFO Administrator has verified 752,000 litres eq. of development diesel and 4.4 million litres eq. of development petrol so far in 2021, which are renewable fuels and also qualified as development fuels.
100% of development diesel came from end of life tyres from Poland. 59% of development petrol came from organic municipal solid waste from the United States, 29% came from food waste from Poland and 12% came from end of life tyres, also from Poland.
Waste feedstock
Waste feedstocks made up over 3 quarters (77%) of all verified renewable fuel so far this year. 100% of the biodiesel, 34% of the bioethanol, and 85% of all other fuels that was supplied for use in the UK was produced from waste feedstocks.
Figure 4: Proportion of waste and non-waste feedstocks amongst verified renewable fuel (table RF_0105a)
Renewable fuel produced from waste feedstocks typically delivers greater GHG savings than fuel derived from crop feedstocks. Therefore, they are encouraged under the RTFO and are typically awarded double certificates. Waste feedstocks include used cooking oil, municipal organic waste, waste agricultural products such as corn husks and sewage sludge.
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.
The majority (56%) of all verified renewable fuel was produced from used cooking oil (UCO), which is used in several different types of renewable fuel. UCO comprised 95% of biodiesel. For bioethanol, the most common feedstock was corn (50%). Corn-based bioethanol comprised 16% of total verified renewable fuel.
Figure 5: Supply of verified renewable fuel to the UK by feedstock and fuel type (table RF_0105a)
Of the 120 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 (50.3 million litres, 42% of renewable fuel from UK origin feedstock). The most common source of bioethanol from UK origin feedstock was sugar beet (27.3 million litres, 23% of renewable fuel from UK origin feedstock).
Figure 6: UK origin verified renewable fuel by feedstock (table RF_0105a)
Country of origin
9% of verified renewable fuel supplied to the UK so far this year was derived from UK feedstocks. The top 5 feedstock origin countries together account for 55% of renewable fuel.
Of the 1,321 million litres eq. of verified renewable fuel supplied so far 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 (302 million litres, 23% of renewable fuel supplied, 43% of total biodiesel supplied).
The most widely reported source for bioethanol supplied to the UK (by feedstock and country of origin) was corn from Ukraine (103 million litres, 8% of renewable fuel supplied, 24% of total bioethanol supplied).
Figure 7: Top 5 countries of origin for feedstocks which are used in UK renewable fuels (table RF_0105a)
Certificates awarded under the RTFO
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.
Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFCs)
RTFCs are awarded to transport fuel suppliers whose renewable fuel meets the sustainability criteria. In 2021, 2,342 million RTFCs have so far been issued to 1,321 million litres eq. of renewable fuel. This is out of a total of 2,204 million litres eq. supplied so far in 2021.
Double Counting Feedstock
Of the 2,342 million RTFCs awarded to renewable fuel that met the sustainability criteria, 1,021 million were issued to fuel from a ‘Double Counting’ feedstock.
Figure 8: Renewable fuel to which RTFCs have been issued (table RF_0102)
Obligations under the RTFO
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 10.679% and 0.556%, 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.
The data for a given year is not finalised until September the following year. Partly as a result of this, 40% of renewable fuel so far supplied this year is not yet verified. Each provisional report typically has a higher proportion of renewable fuel which has been verified, and the final report describes all verified renewable fuel supplied in the year.
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 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.
Further information on the data can be found in the notes and definitions.
Previously published reports can be found on the DfT website.
The publication timetable can be found at Annex B.
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.
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.
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
Renewable fuel statistical reports are published quarterly.
This is the third report of 2021, of 6 total. The final report for 2021 is scheduled for release in November 2022, and will report on the carbon and sustainability performance of individual suppliers.
Table 1: 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_0106 | RTFO_06 | RTFO wide voluntary scheme data | Yes | Yes |
| RF_0105b | - | Feedstock and country of origin over time | No | 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 2: Publication dates and contents of each report
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