Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he last met with a representative of Unipart Logistics to discuss (a) the NHS' plans to reduce its Carbon Footprint and (b) the use of drop-in Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil to replace diesel across (i) fleets and (ii) stand-by generators across the NHS estate.
Answered by Will Quince
Unipart Logistics is a major National Health Service collaborator and meets regularly with Supply Chain Co-ordination Limited to ensure continuous improvement and to deliver supply chain excellence to NHS trusts. The Department’s Ministers have not met Unipart Logistics to specifically discuss the NHS Carbon Footprint or the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in the NHS.
The NHS is committed to reducing its reliance on fossil fuels across its estate and fleet and aims to achieve Net Zero for direct emissions by 2040. As part of this, the NHS is working to increase its use of renewable energy sources. This includes exploring the use of biofuels for fleet and standby generators wherever this is appropriate and cost-effective.
I can confirm that the NHS Supply Chain is currently trialling HVO in its vehicles and will be assessing the long-term viability of HVO as a fuel source for its network.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to encourage Unipart Logistics to procure drop-in Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil for (a) the NHS estate and (b) its vehicle fleets to replace diesel.
Answered by Will Quince
Unipart Logistics is a major National Health Service collaborator and meets regularly with Supply Chain Co-ordination Limited to ensure continuous improvement and to deliver supply chain excellence to NHS trusts. The Department’s Ministers have not met Unipart Logistics to specifically discuss the NHS Carbon Footprint or the use of Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in the NHS.
The NHS is committed to reducing its reliance on fossil fuels across its estate and fleet and aims to achieve Net Zero for direct emissions by 2040. As part of this, the NHS is working to increase its use of renewable energy sources. This includes exploring the use of biofuels for fleet and standby generators wherever this is appropriate and cost-effective.
I can confirm that the NHS Supply Chain is currently trialling HVO in its vehicles and will be assessing the long-term viability of HVO as a fuel source for its network.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on introducing tax relief for hydrogenated vegetable oil for industries that lost access to red diesel in April 2022.
Answered by James Cartlidge - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) is eligible for Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), and is eligible to receive twice the reward in certificates under this scheme where it is produced from waste.
The Government uses the RTFO to incentivise the use of low carbon fuels and reduce emissions from fuel supplied for use in transport and non-road mobile machinery. The RTFO has been highly successful in supporting a market for renewable fuel since its introduction in 2008. Renewable fuels supplied under the RTFO currently contribute a third of the savings required for the UK’s transport carbon budget.
As with all taxes, the Government will keep the tax treatment of HVO under review.
Asked by: Jessica Morden (Labour - Newport East)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the annual average greenhouse gas emissions from (a) hydrogenated vegetable oil and (b) diesel.
Answered by Jesse Norman
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), like other renewable fuels, is eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The RTFO is a certificate trading scheme that requires large suppliers of transport fuel to ensure a percentage of the total fuel they supply is from renewable sources. The RTFO further incentivises HVO produced from waste feedstocks, such as tallow or used cooking oil, by awarding double the renewable transport fuel certificates (RTFCs) compared to crop derived fuels.
Like all low carbon fuels supported under the RTFO, the Department regularly reports on the carbon savings achieved from HVO. In 2021, HVO provided an average 89% carbon reduction compared to a fossil fuel comparator. Full statistical reports are published quarterly on the gov.uk website: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/renewable-fuel-statistics.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds North West)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department plans to take steps to amend the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to help increase the competitiveness of hydrogen fuels against diesel for heavy goods vehicles and buses.
Answered by Lucy Frazer - Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Renewable Hydrogen has been eligible for reward under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) since 2019. In July we published guidance which broadened that support by enabling hydrogen producers to claim certificates by using power purchase agreements (PPA) to show the use of qualifying electricity. This will help bring down the cost of hydrogen for all transport users including heavy good vehicles and buses.
In Spring 2023 we will publish a post implementation review of the RTFO 2018 amendments, which was when hydrogen support was introduced. This will investigate the effect of these amendments, informing the UK’s Low Carbon Fuels Strategy, which is in development
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of introducing a rebate on HVO fuels for the affordability of that fuel compared to diesel.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) continues to be taxed at the same rate as diesel. As with all taxes, the Government keeps the tax treatment of HVO under review.
There are no plans at present to change treatment as the Government uses the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) to incentivise the use of low carbon fuels and reduce emissions from fuel supplied for use in transport and non-road mobile machinery. HVO is eligible for Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates under the RTFO, and is eligible to receive twice the reward in certificates under this scheme where it is produced from waste.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of HVO fuels on the Government's net-zero emissions target.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is one type of biofuel which can be used to replace fossil diesel. HVO has been eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme for more than a decade. In 2020, 38 million litres of biodiesel of HVO were supplied under the RTFO in the UK. As part of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, the Department for Transport committed to work with stakeholders to review the role of biofuels in compatible vehicles and any potential measures to remove barriers to their deployment.
BEIS publishes a range of statistics on renewable energy in Energy Trends at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-section-6-renewables and in DUKES at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/renewable-sources-of-energy-chapter-6-digest-of-united-kingdom-energy-statistics-dukes.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate he has made of the number fuelling stations in the UK that sell HVO fuel alongside diesel.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is one type of biofuel which can be used as a transport fuel. Biofuels are typically blended with petrol and diesel when sold on UK forecourts, as opposed to being offered for sale separately. HVO has been eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme for more than a decade.
The Department does not require data on the number of fuelling stations selling diesel containing HVO, or any other type of biofuel. Given the complexity of fuel supply chains placing such a requirement on fuel retailers would be burdensome. The Department regularly publishes renewable fuel statistics. These include the volumes of biofuel supplied UK-wide by type. In 2020, 38 million litres of biodiesel of HVO was supplied under the RTFO in the UK. The relatively low volumes of HVO supplied is explained in part by there being no HVO production in the UK currently, and HVO being relatively more expensive than other types of biodiesel. It is open to fuel retailers to advertise that the diesel they sell at the pump contains HVO. Whether suppliers and retailers choose to do so is a commercial matter.
As we transition to net zero, renewable fuels such as biodiesel will remain important in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. To this end the Government increased targets for the supply of renewable fuels under the RTFO in December. It is also understood that HVO has the benefit of potentially being able to be supplied in much higher bends than the 10% biodiesel threshold currently referenced in the fuel standards for diesel. Using high blends of biofuels, or drop-in fuels, in captive fleets such as in the heavy vehicles sector, is an option to further maximise carbon savings. As part of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, we committed to work with stakeholders to review the role of these fuels in compatible vehicles and potential measures to remove barriers to their deployment.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to promote the adoption of transitional fuels by (a) merchants and (b) consumers.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is one type of biofuel which can be used as a transport fuel. Biofuels are typically blended with petrol and diesel when sold on UK forecourts, as opposed to being offered for sale separately. HVO has been eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme for more than a decade.
The Department does not require data on the number of fuelling stations selling diesel containing HVO, or any other type of biofuel. Given the complexity of fuel supply chains placing such a requirement on fuel retailers would be burdensome. The Department regularly publishes renewable fuel statistics. These include the volumes of biofuel supplied UK-wide by type. In 2020, 38 million litres of biodiesel of HVO was supplied under the RTFO in the UK. The relatively low volumes of HVO supplied is explained in part by there being no HVO production in the UK currently, and HVO being relatively more expensive than other types of biodiesel. It is open to fuel retailers to advertise that the diesel they sell at the pump contains HVO. Whether suppliers and retailers choose to do so is a commercial matter.
As we transition to net zero, renewable fuels such as biodiesel will remain important in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. To this end the Government increased targets for the supply of renewable fuels under the RTFO in December. It is also understood that HVO has the benefit of potentially being able to be supplied in much higher bends than the 10% biodiesel threshold currently referenced in the fuel standards for diesel. Using high blends of biofuels, or drop-in fuels, in captive fleets such as in the heavy vehicles sector, is an option to further maximise carbon savings. As part of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, we committed to work with stakeholders to review the role of these fuels in compatible vehicles and potential measures to remove barriers to their deployment.
Asked by: Barry Sheerman (Labour (Co-op) - Huddersfield)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he is taking to make HVO fuels more available for consumers.
Answered by Trudy Harrison
Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) is one type of biofuel which can be used as a transport fuel. Biofuels are typically blended with petrol and diesel when sold on UK forecourts, as opposed to being offered for sale separately. HVO has been eligible for support under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme for more than a decade.
The Department does not require data on the number of fuelling stations selling diesel containing HVO, or any other type of biofuel. Given the complexity of fuel supply chains placing such a requirement on fuel retailers would be burdensome. The Department regularly publishes renewable fuel statistics. These include the volumes of biofuel supplied UK-wide by type. In 2020, 38 million litres of biodiesel of HVO was supplied under the RTFO in the UK. The relatively low volumes of HVO supplied is explained in part by there being no HVO production in the UK currently, and HVO being relatively more expensive than other types of biodiesel. It is open to fuel retailers to advertise that the diesel they sell at the pump contains HVO. Whether suppliers and retailers choose to do so is a commercial matter.
As we transition to net zero, renewable fuels such as biodiesel will remain important in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions. To this end the Government increased targets for the supply of renewable fuels under the RTFO in December. It is also understood that HVO has the benefit of potentially being able to be supplied in much higher bends than the 10% biodiesel threshold currently referenced in the fuel standards for diesel. Using high blends of biofuels, or drop-in fuels, in captive fleets such as in the heavy vehicles sector, is an option to further maximise carbon savings. As part of the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, we committed to work with stakeholders to review the role of these fuels in compatible vehicles and potential measures to remove barriers to their deployment.