There is still a gap between supply and demand of biofuels feedstock that is both sustainably verified and economically competitive, Patrick Lynch, biofuel sustainability manager for Greenergy told the conference.
The company sold eight billion litres of road fuel per year, including biofuels. The main feedstock used was Brazilian sugar cane for bioethanol and soy for biodiesel. UK-grown sugar beet and European rapeseed made up a small proportion.
Currently the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) required all suppliers of fossil fuels to ensure 3.6 per cent of the road fuels they supply in the UK is made up of renewable fuels. This is set to increase to 5.3 per cent in 2013.
As well as rules covering minimum greenhouse gas savings and traceability, the RFTO has sustainability standards, which lay out five environmental principals. They protect soil, air, water, biodiversity and carbon stocks of the country supplying feedstocks, while the two social principles protect workers’ rights, land rights and community relations.
Existing assurance schemes covered most crops, but Greenergy had to develop its own scheme for Brazilian sugar cane, he said.
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