Shipping: Biofuels

(asked on 18th February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what support he is providing to increase the number of ships fuelled by biofuel.


Answered by
Robert Courts Portrait
Robert Courts
Solicitor General (Attorney General's Office)
This question was answered on 24th February 2022

The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) currently provides support for biofuels used in inland waterway vessels.

Following a consultation in 2021 on whether and how the RTFO could support a greater uptake of low carbon fuels in maritime, the Government decided not to provide support to biofuels used in shipping. This is because biomass availability across the UK economy is limited, and these finite resources might be more effectively used in those sectors of our economy that have fewer decarbonisation options compared to maritime. This position does not preclude vessels purchasing and using biofuel in a commercial fashion.

Since January 2022, the RTFO provides support to renewable fuels of non-biological origin when used across the maritime sector, including ships operating at sea. This applies to fuels including renewable ammonia, hydrogen and methanol, where R&D support is needed to help these fuels come to market.

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