Public Consultation on the Biofuel Obligation Scheme

The Biofuels Obligation Scheme was introduced in 2010 and requires suppliers of motor fuel to ensure that biofuels make up a certain percentage of national annual fuel sales. This is known as the biofuel obligation and is currently set at 8% by volume.

Ireland is committed to ensuring that by 2020, 10% of the energy consumed in the transport sector will come from renewable energy sources. The Biofuel Obligation Scheme has an important role to play in helping Ireland meet its 2020 renewable energy targets.

The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment recently held a consultation seeking views in relation to implementing a phased increase in the biofuel obligation rate, how the Biofuels Obligation Scheme could be developed in the future and the potential for a similar obligation scheme in the domestic heating sector. The closing date for submissions was 19 January 2018.

Twenty-two submissions were received and are published below. Confidential or commercially sensitive information which was clearly identified in submissions has not been included.

In April 2018, the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment published the Biofuel Obligation Scheme Policy Statement. This was informed by the responses received to the Biofuel Obligation Scheme public consultation which took place in December 2017 and January 2018.

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