Question reference: S3W-04501
- Asked by: Jackson Carlaw, MSP for West of Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 20 September 2007
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Current status: Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 5 October 2007
Question
To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken, or intends to take, to encourage the greater use of biodiesel.
Answer
Biodiesel as a blendedtransport fuel with standard fossil and mineral diesel is already sold in outletsacross the UK without the need for separate labelling orpumps. The biofuel component of blended fuels will increase to 5% as part of theRenewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) target by 2010. New vehicle engine warrantieswould be invalid if biofuel content greater than 5% were used. To provide furthercertainty to transport fuel suppliers and stimulate production, the Chancellor of the Exchequer extended the period of RTFO fuel duty incentive of 20p per litre onbiodiesel and bioethanol production until 2009-10.
We are developingplans to consult with key stakeholders to consider what reasonable steps can betaken to encourage wider use of higher blends of biofuels for all road vehicles.We continue to monitor UK and European discussions aimed at increasingthe RTFO target beyond 2010.