Renewable Transport Fuel Association: Green Fuel Firms Launch New Trade Body

(Business Green) RTFA aims to drive uptake of low-carbon fuels such as bioethanol, biomethane, biodiesel and biopropene -- Twelve companies have joined together to form the Renewable Transport Fuel Association (RTFA), a new trade body launched this week for producers and suppliers of greener transport fuels.

The founders include all the UK's producers of liquid renewable fuels and the majority of those manufacturing green gas that can be used for transport. Its founding members include Associated British Foods, ABSL, Alco, Argent Energy, Calor, CNG Fuels, Ensus UK, Gasrec, Greenergy, Nova Pangea, Olleco, and Velocys.

The RTFA will therefore work to support rapid action to decarbonise transport through the uptake of low carbon fuels such as bioethanol, biomethane, biodiesel and biopropene, according to its chief executive, Gaynor Hartnell.

"Ten years ago, carbon emissions from energy supply were twice that of transport," she said. "Now transport is the largest polluter in the economy. Switching fuels is one of the most cost-effective and fastest actions in the fight against climate change, yet the role of fuels in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is overlooked. The RTFA will be the voice of the UK companies that produce and supply these fuels that can make a difference to the environment today."

Biofuels and biogas are already in use across much the road transport sector and a growing number of haulage firms are investing in lorries that can make use of biogas.

Advocates of the technology maintain that it delivers significant net emissions reductions, as well as air quality improvements. But critics have questioned the scale of promised emissions reductions, warning that demand for energy crops has had knock on impacts on land use and arguing that the electrification of many transport technologies provides a more sustainable path towards the decarbonisation of the sector. READ MORE