Press release
New Renewable Transport Fuel Policy will bring Ireland closer to sustainable transport goals
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Today, the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan announced the publication of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2023-2025.
This latest iteration of the Policy sets out updated rates for renewable transport fuels over the next two years and outlines the steps that have to be taken to achieve these proposed rates, in line with European requirements and national climate action objectives. In doing so, it also provides policy certainty for relevant economic operators and stakeholders, for example fossil fuel suppliers and producers and suppliers of renewable transport fuels, who are key to the delivery of emission reduction targets in the transport sector.
The policy will underpin the shift to the Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP 23) biofuel targets of at least B20 (biodiesel equivalent) in diesel and E10 (Ethanol) in petrol by 2030 (with an interim B12/E10 by 2025 target). Modelling analysis projects a saving of 1.08 MtCO2eq by 2030 from this biofuel target.
The move to E10 in petrol is already well underway and will take effect from later this week, 1 July. This follows a consultative process and an extensive public awareness campaign. Other targets will be progressed over coming years.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said:
"The Renewable Transport Fuel Policy continues to be an important part of our transition to a more sustainable transport sector. While our emphasis continues to be increasing public and active travel as well as encouraging the shift to EVs, the reality is that ICE vehicles will continue to be part of our transport mix for the foreseeable future. This new policy helps reduce the polluting impact of petrol and diesel and provides more certainty to those involved in the production, distribution and use of biofuels, biogas and advanced renewables.”
To achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions in the transport sector by 2030, the Climate Action Plan, in addition to measures for increasing sustainable mobility, public and active travel, and electrification of road transport, increased biofuels in transport as a transition measure will contribute 13.7% of transport sector decarbonization by 2030.
307m litres (9.6 PJ) of liquid biofuels and 0.04 PJ of gaseous fuels were placed on the market in 2022, which was an increase from 246m litres (7.6 PJ) of liquid biofuels and 0.2 PJ of gaseous fuels in 2021.
The CAP biofuel target is for at least B20 (biodiesel equivalent) in diesel and E10 (Ethanol) in petrol by 2030 (with an interim B12/E10 by 2025 target).
Modelling analysis of the Climate Action Plan target projects a 1.08 MtCO2eq abatement saving by 2030 from this biofuel target.
Delivery of the biofuel targets are a significant contributor to the overall 50% emissions reduction target for the transport sector as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023 and EU obligations under the Renewable Energy and Fuel Quality Directives.
Since 2009, E10 petrol as standard has been rolled out across 15 European countries as well as other countries around the world such as the US and Australia. This measure will also align the current petrol supply used in Ireland to that of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The Climate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23), launched in December 2022, is the second annual update to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2019. This plan is the first to be prepared under the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 and following the introduction of economy-wide carbon budgets and sectoral emissions ceilings. Implementation of the Climate Action Plan will create jobs, new economic opportunities and protect people and the planet. You can access Climate Action Plan 2023 and its annex of actions by visiting www.gov.ie/climateaction.