CPA Bulletin

www.cpa.uk.net CPA Bulletin > February 2022 13 ROAD TO NET ZERO HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) fuel is increasingly being used as a ‘drop in’ replacement for conventional diesel fuel, offering end users significant reductions in their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. CPA is now a member of Zemo Partnership, a not-for-profit, independent partnership, jointly funded by government and its members. Previously known as the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, Zemo Partnership provides information and advice to those working to reduce emissions, improve air quality, and combat climate change through cleaner mobility. They also play a key role in influencing and shaping UK climate change and air quality policy. Over the past 12 months, Zemo Partnership has launched an independent fuel supply assurance scheme known as the Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS). Launched to help boost fleet operator confidence and the uptake of renewable fuels such as HVO, the scheme verifies claims made by renewable supplier regarding the GHG and sustainability performance of different renewable fuels supplied in the UK. Zemo Partnership studies have found that an important barrier to uptake was the need for fleet operators to have more clarity in terms of the environmental credentials of renewable fuels, both for company carbon reporting and making decisions on fleet decarbonisation solutions. The RFAS approves companies supplying high blend renewable fuels on the basis of meeting three performance criteria, with evidence verified by an independent auditor complementing the safeguards included in the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO). The assurance criteria are based on life-cycle GHG emissions, feedstock sustainability and supply chain traceability. The scheme is open to companies supplying renewable fuels for use in road vehicles and non-road mobile machinery, including biofuels and hydrogen. A unique feature of the scheme is a ‘Renewable Fuel Declaration’ which fleet operators receive with batches of the renewable fuel purchase. The declaration includes a colour-coded emission savings banding system, similar to energy efficiency labels. Zemo Partnership piloted the scheme with several renewable fuel suppliers. Argent Energy, Beesley Fuels, Crown Oil, ESL Fuels, Green Biofuels, Greenergy Fuels and Speedy Fuels are some of the companies now approved under the scheme. All these companies are producing biofuels from waste feedstocks, achieving carbon emission savings of between 85% and 92% compared with diesel. Further information on Zemo Partnership and the Renewable Fuel Assurance Scheme is available at www.zemo.org.uk A Frequently-Asked Questions (FAQs) document about HVO fuel is available on the CPA website at https://www.cpa.uk.net/ health-safety-environment/zero-emissions On the Road to Net Zero