The Department for Transport announced the new measures — which will come into force on Sunday — stating that all companies who produce and supply at least 450,000 litres of fuel to transport firms must up the amount of biofuel they use.
The new measures will see the percentage of renewable fuel required in mixtures increase from 4.75% to 9.75% by 2020, and 12.4% by 2032.
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Transport minister Jesse Norman said: “We are committed to reducing carbon emissions from transport to tackle climate change, and to making the sector as sustainable as possible. Increasing our use of renewable fuels is a key part of this.
“The changes we are introducing will double our carbon emissions savings from the renewable transport fuel obligation scheme by doubling the use of renewable fuels and reducing reliance on imported fossil diesel.
“This will deliver emissions savings equal to taking hundreds of thousands of cars off the road.”
Nina Skorupska, chief executive of the Renewable Energy Association, added: “We welcome the increased targets for renewable transport fuels and are excited by the new regulations which will encourage the production of novel fuels for hard-to-decarbonise sectors.”
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The new rules won’t just apply to motor transport companies such as haulage firms but will be extended to airlines too.
Willie Walsh, chief executive of the International Airline Group, described the new measures as “long overdue”.
He said: “Providing sustainable fuel production for aircraft with the same economic incentives given to road vehicles is long overdue. This is a major step forward to help the UK aviation industry meet its carbon reduction targets.
“These incentives have enabled alternative fuel sources to be developed for cars and lorries, while aviation has traditionally been heavily dependent on fossil fuels. This government initiative will support our plans to build Europe’s first waste to jet biofuel plant in Britain, creating UK jobs and growth.”
