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Written question asked by Lord Spellar (Labour) on Tuesday, 22 September 2020, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 24 September 2020. It was answered by Baroness Maclean of Redditch (Conservative) on Friday, 25 September 2020 on behalf of the Department for Transport.

Diesel: Renewable Fuels

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's policy is on the use of (a) food and (b) animal feed crops for the production of renewable diesel.

Answer

The Government recognises that some crop derived biofuels can lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions due to indirect land use change factors, and concerns regarding the potential for increases in food prices as land and crops are diverted to fuel rather than food production.

Given these concerns the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), a certificate trading scheme which promotes a market for sustainable renewable fuels, limits the contribution crop based biofuels can make towards a suppliers obligation (both bioethanol and biodiesel). This sliding cap on crop based biofuels decreases from 4% in 2020 to 2% in 2032. The RTFO provides additional support for low carbon fuels that do not compete with food and save significant greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil fuels. Biofuels made from wastes and residues receive twice number of tradeable certificates than would be rewarded for the supply of biofuels made from crops.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
92630
Session
2019-21
Transferred
Yes
Subjects
Crops Animal feed Food Diesel Renewable fuels
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk