UK government launches Renewable Fuels Agency

Launched earlier this month by transport secretary Ruth Kelly, the Renewable Fuels Agency will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation, which comes into force in April 2008.

The Obligation states that by 2010, five per cent of all the fuels sold in the UK should come from biofuels, saving 2.6 million to 3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year.

Board
The chairman of the agency will be Professor Ed Gallagher, former chief executive of the Environment Agency.

Joining Professor Gallagher on the board are Greg Archer, director of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, Paul Jefferiss, director of environmental policy at BP, Gareth Llewellyn, director for safety, health, environment and corporate responsibility for the National Grid and Brian White, director of a biofuel trading company, BionerG Ltd.

Long-term
Launching the agency, Ruth Kelly said: “the creation of the Renewable Fuels Agency marks a big step forward in creating a strong long-term market for biofuels in the UK. I want the agency to make sure the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation is run efficiently and effectively, but I also want it to take the lead in making sure the biofuels we use in this country come from sustainable sources, saving the most carbon possible.”