Biofuel analysis calls for renewed industry effort

The Renewable Fuels Agency is calling for renewed effort to increase uptake across the UK oil industry after its biofuel analysis showed a number of major companies missed targets for delivery.

Nick Goodall, chief executive officer of the agency, says: "We've seen some progress from suppliers in meeting the challenge of sourcing their biofuels responsibly, but in many cases it has been disappointingly slow."

The biofuel analysis was carried out in accordance with the second year of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation and also assessed suppliers' performance on greenhouse gas emissions.

Most of those analysed missed the target of 50 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions, but across the industry the improvement compared with fossil fuels was 51 per cent.

On the Qualifying Environmental Standard target for biofuel feedstock, fewer than one in three (31 per cent) of the assessed companies met the criteria, again compared with a target rate of 50 per cent.

Data used in the report was compiled between April 15th 2009 and April 14th 2010 and was verified before being incorporated into the study.