Anne Main: 'Bonkers anomaly' in bio fuels legislation must be addressed
Press Release :
28 October 2009
During a debate on the floor of the House of Commons yesterday, Anne Main, MP for St Albans, called upon the Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to amend legislation to encourage their use of Biofuels generated from Used Cooking Oils, and make it more economic.
Bio-diesel manufactured from Used Cooking Oil is one of the most sustainable renewable fuels available, using a waste product to produce energy and reduce lifecycle carbon emissions by up to 90%. However, under the current regulatory regime, when a small proportion is derived from fossil fuels the whole product is deemed a fossil fuel by Ofgem.
During the debate, Anne said:
“Used cooking oil can produce significant carbon savings and is an excellent way to use a waste product and to create energy. However, it seems that it is uneconomic for many producers to do so at present, because of the bonkers anomaly that has been pointed out. I therefore wonder whether the Minister would consider re-examining speedily—in fact now—the legislation that covers the treatment of biodiesel produced from used cooking oil. We need to iron out the anomaly. Pushing it into the long grass is, in effect, condemning this emerging industry to failure.”
The Minister responded:
“I am open to the argument being made in the debate, and I will take away the hon. Lady’s suggestion of, for example, a 0.9 renewable obligation certificate, because it is 90 per cent. I will consider that suggestion, because it is constructive.
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I am [also] perfectly willing to meet sector representatives if they want to talk to me about their concerns and make constructive suggestions. I hope that that is helpful”
Upon leaving the chamber, Anne said:
“I was pleased to have the opportunity to raise this issue today, and am grateful to the Minister for responding so positively, agreeing to examine the situation and meet with industry leaders.
If we can have a realistic ruling on used cooking oil as a fuel, based on the fact that it is 90% recycled, then today’s debate will have moved forward the prospect of us achieving a lower carbon future, and will offer to support to British industries who are investing in developing this bio fuel technology.
This may have seemed like a technical debate, about a niche product, but there is an important issue at the heart of it. Used cooking oil can produce significant carbon savings and is an excellent way to use a waste product and to create energy. It also removes this product from the waste stream and has none of the negative implications that some green groups sometimes associate with bio fuel production.
I hope that, as a result of this debate, we will see some action from the Government to correct this situation, which discriminates against used cooking oil as a fuel.”
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