British is best on biofuels

In its first quarterly report since the EU requirements were introduced, the Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) said 2.61 per cent of UK road fuel is now being supplied by biofuels – 0.1 per cent ahead of target.

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It also said that while only 20 per cent of global biofuels met key environmental standards, 97 per cent of British grown crops had met or exceeded the standards this year.

The NFU welcomed the report, saying it was proof that Britain is leading the world when it comes to sustainable biofuels.

NFU vice president Paul Temple said: “Sustainable biofuels are both good for the environment and offer new opportunities for British farmers.

“Although British biofuels still only make up a small percentage of current biofuels used, the fact they are one of the few meeting the qualifying environmental standard shows that these biofuels have significant potential to contribute to reducing transport emissions.

“We hope that suppliers will recognise the benefits of buying British feedstocks and this new renewable fuel source continues to grow giving our farmers and growers additional markets to trade in.”

The RFA also released data this week showing which fuel companies were making the most of biofuels, with almost all suppliers of fuel to the UK either achieving or close to achieving carbon savings in line with the Government's target for 2008-09.

However, a minority of underperforming firms were singled out by the report. BP, Esso, Murco, Prax and Topaz have so far failed to report any biofuels as meeting environmental standards, while Prax and Topaz both failed to report the origin of their biofuels.

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