New scheme will provide fleet operators with clarity over renewable fuels

Zemo Partnership has launched a new scheme that will provide fleet operators with greater clarity around the environmental credentials of renewable fuels in a bid to boost their uptake.

While the electrification of passenger cars is now well underway, larger, long-range petrol and diesel vehicles will continue to be on the road for the next 20-30 years at least. 

According to a recent study conducted by Zemo Partnership, the main barrier to the uptake of renewable fuels for Heavy Duty Fleet (HDV) operators is the lack of clarity in terms of the environmental credentials of different fuels. 

Based on this, Zemo has launched a new Renewable Fuels Assurance Scheme (RFAS) which will give fleet operators accurate information about the greenhouse gas (GHG) and wider sustainability performance of various fuels supplied in the UK. 

The RFAS approves companies based on their ability to meet three performance criteria: life-cycle GHG emissions, feedstock sustainability and supply chain traceability. 

The scheme is open to all companies who supply renewable fuels for road vehicles and non-road mobile machinery, including biofuels and hydrogen.

The scheme also offers a ‘Renewable Fuel Declaration’ which fleet operators receive with their batches of the renewable fuel purchase. The declaration includes a colour-coded GHG emission savings banding system, which Zemo hope will encourage fleet operators to strive to achieve higher GHG emissions savings. 

Gloria Esposito, head of sustainability at Zemo Partnership said: ‘It’s critical that technological interventions to tackle climate change live up to their billing and can demonstrate verifiable life cycle GHG emissions savings and strong sustainability performance in terms of their production.

‘With increasing attention being given to Scope 3 emissions in corporate carbon reporting, measures to lower GHG emissions across company supply chains are becoming increasingly important. One of the benefits of the RFAS is that it will provide accurate, robust and transparent renewable fuel GHG emissions data, and assist fleet operator decision making and reporting with regards to choosing sustainable low carbon solutions.’

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